Senate Republicans issue bill that would tighten restrictions on immigration policy
April 10, 2019
Policy Watch
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Senate Republicans move to reduce legal immigration. A group of Senate Republicans introduced legislation Wednesday that would reform immigration by preferring skilled workers and their immediate family members, and would cut legal immigration in half. The bill stands in opposition to Trump advisor and son in law Jared Kushner’s efforts to increase skilled immigration, and serves as a reminder to the President from his own party of his immigration campaign promises. The legislation, entitled the RAISE Act, would eliminate the visa lottery system by which family members of legal immigrations can receive green cards. The Senators introduced the same bill in the previous session. [Politico]
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Majority Leader McConnell refuses to take up net neutrality bill. Senator Mitch McConnell told reporters Tuesday that the net-neutrality bill currently before the House of Representatives would be “dead on arrival” in the Senate. The bill is expected to pass the House, despite Republican members of Congress’ efforts to undermine the bill during markup. Democrats were able to force a vote on the legislation under an until-now little used regulatory law called the Congressional Review Act. [The Hill]
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Left-moderate Democratic divide delays budget vote. Budget hawks and the Democratic left sparred over a two year budget measure that would increase spending across the board, just before the new majority prepared to head out for a three-day unity retreat. Speaker Pelosi reassured critics and the public, calling the budgeting squabble part of the “process.” The current bill would increase the budget caps imposed by the Budget Control Act of 2011. Liberal factions expressed outrage at increases in military spending, while Democratic budget hawks cited across the board would increase risk of default and inflation. [NYT]
Economic Indicators and News
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Consumer Prices up in March. Rising gasoline prices and the increasing cost of housing brought up consumer prices in the month of March, rising 0.4% following a 0.2% gain the prior month. Underlying inflation remains tempered, especially in the context of slowing economic growth worldwide. [CNBC]
A group of Senate Republicans introduced legislation Wednesday that would reform immigration by preferring skilled workers and their immediate family members, and would cut legal immigration in half. The bill stands in opposition to Trump advisor and son in law Jared Kushner’s efforts to increase skilled immigration, and serves as a reminder to the President from his own party of his immigration campaign promises. The legislation, entitled the RAISE Act, would eliminate the visa lottery system by which family members of legal immigrations can receive green cards. The Senators introduced the same bill in the previous session.
