The United States House of Representatives just took some significant action on critical issues which had been looming. They passed legislation which suspends the debt ceiling until March of 2017 and lifts budget caps set by sequestration by $80 billion through September 2017. That increase will be split evenly between discretionary spending and non-discretionary spending. This could result in positive outcomes for local government programs in the coming year and a half. Senate members have sounded mostly positive about the deal. Essentially at the same time, they elected Paul Ryan (R-WI) to serve as the next House Speaker, ending weeks of turmoil within the GOP caucus. 

Summer Minnick is the Director of External Relations and Federal Affairs. She can be reached at 517-908-0301 or sminnick@mml.org.