Congress Struggles as Time Runs Out

by Greg Valliere, AGF Management Ltd.

WHAT A PERVERSE IRONY: As Washington reflects on the epic Senate career of Bob Dole, Congress is mired in dysfunction, unable to pass crucial legislation as time runs out before the Christmas break.

THERE’S NO ONE IN CONGRESS TODAY with the stature of Senator Dole, and no one who can quickly break the deadlock over crucial legislation. Congress will focus this week on the defense spending bill, which could take several days to resolve. Then comes the most serious issue — raising the debt ceiling.

BUDGET EXPERTS THINK THE TREASURY can stumble through the next two weeks before there’s a genuine crisis, but waiting until after Christmas is now viewed as risky.

WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE that Chuck Schumer will have to cave, with the Democrats embracing the reconciliation process to raise the ceiling. Could it be attached to the defense bill? Perhaps, but key leaders are lukewarm. In any event, we do not anticipate a U.S. default.

HOW CAN THERE POSSIBLY BE ENOUGH TIME to pass Joe Biden’s $2 trillion Build Back Better bill? That probably will get pushed into 2022, thanks largely to Joe Manchin, who is convinced that more spending will lead to more inflation. A bill could pass later this winter, but it’s possible that it could sink from its own weight.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE PARTISANSHIP WILL PERSIST: The House may take nearly a full day for a vote to censure Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), who made anti-Muslim remarks about Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.). Hearings over the Jan. 6 riot are coming, amid more subpoenas. And over the weekend, Donald Trump publicly called the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff a “f—-ing idiot.”

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE ECONOMY continues to expand, with fourth quarter GDP growth of at least 5% likely; last Friday’s jobs report was a fluke, in our opinion. The economy is nearing full employment — and more immigrants are needed to fill job openings. The Fed finally gets it — the fed funds rate will have to rise, perhaps beginning as early as spring.
* * * * *
BOB DOLE, RIP: On a personal level, two things stand out — his biting sarcasm, often self-deprecating and always very funny. He, Alan Simpson and Mo Udall were the funniest members we ever encountered. Second, you had to shake hands with your left hand, because his right side was permanently crippled. It altered his life and left him in constant pain, but he never complained.

SENATOR DOLE WAS ONE OF THE LAST SURVIVORS of the Greatest Generation, which gave selflessly as World War II raged. Many sacrificed their lives and others sacrificed their careers; Dole wanted to be a doctor. Like George H.W. Bush and John McCain, Bob Dole put the country ahead of politics, a fading concept amid today’s bitter dysfunction.

 

 

 


The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of AGF, its subsidiaries or any of its affiliated companies, funds or investment strategies.

The views expressed in this blog are provided as a general source of information based on information available as of the date of publication and should not be considered as personal investment advice or an offer or solicitation to buy and/or sell securities. Speculation or stated believes about future events, such as market or economic conditions, company or security performance, or other projections represent the beliefs of the author and do not necessarily represent the view of AGF, its subsidiaries or any of its affiliated companies, funds or investment strategies. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in these commentaries at the time of publication; however, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Market conditions may change and AGF accepts no responsibility for individual investment decisions arising from the use of or reliance on the information contained herein. Any financial projections are based on the opinions of the author and should not be considered as a forecast. The forward looking statements and opinions may be affected by changing economic circumstances and are subject to a number of uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward looking statements. The information contained in this commentary is designed to provide you with general information related to the political and economic environment in the United States. It is not intended to be comprehensive investment advice applicable to the circumstances of the individual.

AGF Investments is a group of wholly owned subsidiaries of AGF Management Limited, a Canadian reporting issuer. The subsidiaries included in AGF Investments are AGF Investments Inc. (AGFI), AGF Investments America Inc. (AGFA), AGF Investments LLC (AGFUS) and AGF International Advisors Company Limited (AGFIA). AGFA and AGFUS are registered advisors in the U.S. AGFI is a registered as a portfolio manager across Canadian securities commissions. AGFIA is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and registered with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission. The subsidiaries that form AGF Investments manage a variety of mandates comprised of equity, fixed income and balanced assets.

About AGF Management Limited

Founded in 1957, AGF Management Limited (AGF) is an independent and globally diverse asset management firm. AGF brings a disciplined approach to delivering excellence in investment management through its fundamental, quantitative, alternative and high-net-worth businesses focused on providing an exceptional client experience. AGF’s suite of investment solutions extends globally to a wide range of clients, from financial advisors and individual investors to institutional investors including pension plans, corporate plans, sovereign wealth funds and endowments and foundations.

For further information, please visit AGF.com.

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This post was first published at the AGF Perspectives Blog.

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