Modernization panel OKs latest recommendations, sprinkles Congress with its ‘secret sauce’

Modernization panel OKs latest recommendations, sprinkles Congress with its ‘secret sauce’-rollcall:  A drab room in the Capitol complex once again felt like an oasis Wednesday morning, as the “fix Congress” panel approved its latest set of recommendations.

House passes workaround to move forward on raising the debt ceiling

House passes workaround to move forward on raising the debt ceiling-politico: The House passed a bill Tuesday night to expedite a debt ceiling fix in the Senate, allowing Democrats to essentially raise the nation’s credit limit on their own and thwart a Christmastime default.

‘Byrd bath,’ long nights await senators in December sprint

‘Byrd bath,’ long nights await senators in December sprint-rollcall:  Senate committees have been updating the House-passed $2.2 trillion climate and social spending package text to ensure it complies with budget reconciliation rules, but most have yet to begin the formal review process with the Senate parliamentarian known as “the Byrd bath.”

Big companies look to Senate to ease budget bill’s minimum tax

Big companies look to Senate to ease budget bill’s minimum tax-rollcall: Some of the largest U.S. corporations are looking for new exemptions from the budget reconciliation bill’s minimum tax on income reported to shareholders, arguing it could depress economic activity, including financing pensions for millions of workers and investing in clean energy projects.

Congress thwarts shutdown after vaccine mandate clash

Congress thwarts shutdown after vaccine mandate clash-politico:  Congress averted a government shutdown after Senate leaders mollified a group of Republicans who demanded a vote targeting President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate.

State redistricting commissions get mixed reviews

State redistricting commissions get mixed reviews-rollcall:  As states sprint through their redistricting processes this fall, many activists are learning that mapmaking commissions don’t quite address gerrymandering or minority voting protections as intended.

CDC working to tighten testing requirement for international travelers

CDC working to tighten testing requirement for international travelers-thehill:  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working to tighten testing requirements for international travelers arriving in the United States in the face of the omicron variant, the agency said Tuesday night.