John Dingell Wraps It All Up in Holiday Jingle

John Dingell Wraps It All Up-rollcall:The Michigan Democrat, who each winter lampoons the year that was, is concluding his tenure on the Hill after nearly 60 years. His wife, newly minted lawmaker Debbie Dingell, is set to succeed him in the 114th Congress. In his latest farewell address (they began trickling out months ago), the octogenarian pol cracks wise about the 2014 electoral drubbing his party took, his mounting maladies, rising technology and the sinking feeling he occasionally gets from surfing the web.

Winners and losers of lame duck

Winners and losers of lame duck-thehill: The final days of the 113th Congress were dominated by a bruising fight over government funding that nearly led to a shutdown. Senate Democrats rushed to move legislation and nominees across the finish line before losing their majority, while Republicans battled internally over how to respond to President Obama's action to delay deportations.

Senate approves tax extenders package without Ron Wyden

Senate approves tax extenders package without Ron Wyden-politico: The Senate closed out 2014 true to its dysfunctional form — passing a two-week tax bill that nobody really wanted. The bill, which will retroactively extend a package of expired tax breaks for 2014, was the minimum lawmakers could do to prevent tax hikes for millions of individuals and businesses. It was approved in a 76-16 vote with Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the top tax writer in the Senate, voting no.

Avalere Analysis - Exchange Enrollment Outlook: 10.5 Million to Sign Up by End of 2015

Exchange Enrollment Outlook: 10.5 Million to Sign Up by End of 2015-avalerehealth: Enrollment is on track to hit roughly 10.5 million by the time the open-enrollment period ends, according to a new analysis from Avalere Health. The consulting firm left wiggle room of about 1 million people, but even the low end of that range would meet or exceed HHS's target of covering 9 to 10 million people in 2015.

Chaffetz Lays Out Different Direction for Oversight

Chaffetz Lays Out Different Direction for Oversight-rollcall: If incoming Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) made just one thing clear Tuesday, it’s this: The Oversight and Government Reform Committee is not Darrell Issa’s anymore — in fact, Issa won’t even be on the committee next year. His vision for the Oversight panel is one that focuses less on political scandals and more on the “government reform” part. The Utah Republican has a dramatically different vision for the panel than that of his predecessor.

New Surgeon General Confirmed

New Surgeon General Confirmed-nationaljournal: The Senate voted 51-43 to confirm Dr. Vivek Murthy as the next surgeon general, after a vote on his nomination was delayed for more than a year following opposition from the NRA over his claims that guns are a public health issue. Three Democrats opposed the nomination last night: Sens. Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, and Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois was the only Republican to vote in favor of his nomination.

New Governing Coalition Emerges

New Governing Coalition Emerges-rollcall: In the wake of the “cromnibus,” a new governing coalition may have emerged in Washington. For the first time in eight years, it doesn’t necessarily include Nancy Pelosi. It does include Steny H. Hoyer. The coalition doesn’t seem to need Sens. Ted Cruz, Elizabeth Warren or Jeff Sessions. But it does need the more moderate wing of Democrats personified by Hoyer, the minority whip, who helped pass the compromise forged by Speaker John A. Boehner, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid and incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Smooth Passage Predicted For Bill Renewing R&D Credit

Smooth Passage Predicted For Bill Renewing R&D Credit-thegraysheet: Easy passage by the Senate of a tax-extenders bill that will retroactively renew the research and development tax credit is expected this week. The bill was also approved by the House Dec. 3.

Industry Says OIG Proposed Gainsharing Rule Could Hurt Innovation

Industry Says OIG Proposed Gainsharing Rule Could Hurt Innovation-thegraysheet: Medical device groups worry some that proposed provisions and interpretations in a draft Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) rule could expand exemptions for gainsharing agreements between hospitals and physicians that will hinder the ability of innovative products to gain traction in the market.

AHIP CEO: ACA's Quality, Cost-Cutting Goals Unachievable If PhRMA Has 'Blank Check'

AHIP CEO: ACA's Quality, Cost-Cutting Goals Unachievable If PhRMA Has 'Blank Check'-insidehealthpolicy: America's Health Insurance Plans CEO Karen Ignagni on Friday (Dec. 12) made another plea for drug makers to work with payers and providers to make pricing of specialty drugs more competitive and transparent, saying that absent such a a move changes in the health care landscape designed to increase quality and access while lowering costs may not be be sustainable in the long term.

Spending Deal May Not Offer 2015 Congress Road Map

Spending Deal May Not Offer 2015 Congress Road Map-ap: The bipartisan agreement that averted a shutdown may not be not a harbinger of things to come in the 114th Congress, but the result of a confluence of factors that will change in 2015.

Senate Passes Long Term Spending Bill To Avoid Government Shutdown

Senate Passes Long Term Spending Bill To Avoid Government Shutdown-abcnews: The massive spending package cleared the upper chamber on a 56-to-40 vote late Saturday, after stalling Friday due to demands from Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Mike Lee, R-Utah, for a vote to defund President Obama's executive action on immigration. The president is expected to sign the measure before a short-term extension expires at midnight Wednesday.