Suspending The Rules

President Donald Trump last week promised that House leaders were working on tax legislation to unveil before the Nov. 6 midterm election. On this week's episode of "Suspending the Rules," Bloomberg Government Legislative Analyst Sarah Babbage looks at Republican tax proposals that could be taken up between now and the end of the year, including the elements of the "Tax Reform 2.0" package and the almost traditional suite of "tax extenders." On the campaign trail, Democrats are using Republicans' efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act against them, highlighting the protections for those with pre-existing medical conditions that could be lost if the law is undone. In the second segment, Legislative Analyst Danielle Parnass and Bloomberg Government health policy reporter Alex Ruoff discuss this dynamic, a pending lawsuit, and what could happen in the post-election lame duck session. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor and Adam Schank Engineer: Nicholas Anzalotta-Kynoch

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) proposal to spend $23.4 billion on a wall along the southern border represents a harder line for Republicans as midterm election campaigns go into overdrive. This week on "Suspending the Rules," Bloomberg Government budget appropriations reporter Jack Fitzpatrick dives into the bill and its ramifications for the fiscal 2019 spending fight that will resume in the lame duck. While Democrats are poised to gain seats, and possibly the majority, in the House, their prospects for the Senate are less clear. Bloomberg Government elections reporter Greg Giroux joins in the second segment to set the stage for Nov. 6 and share the bellwether races he'll be watching for on election night. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor and Danielle Parnass Engineer: Nicholas Anzalotta-Kynoch

The new trade agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will be signed by the end of November. Bloomberg Government Legislative Analyst Sarah Babbage and Agriculture Reporter Teaganne Finn discuss how the new deal compares to the North American Free Trade Agreement it will replace, as well as the process for it to take effect. Agriculture policy leaders in Congress are working to reauthorize farm aid and food assistance in a new Farm Bill. Legislative Analyst Danielle Parnass joins Finn in a discussion about the reasons an agreement remains elusive and why its Sept. 30 deadline wasn't exactly a firm one. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor and Adam Schank Engineer: Nico Anzalotta

A measure to allow the federal government to collect more data on college students is being discussed as Congress could reauthorize the Higher Education Act this year. In this special episode of Suspending the Rules, Bloomberg Government education policy reporter Emily Wilkins sits down with Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), one of the cosponsors of the College Transparency Act (S. 1121). Hosts: Adam M. Taylor and Danielle Parnass Producer: Adam Schank Engineer: Nicholas Anzalotta-Kynoch

Immigration debates related to the 2020 census, immigration courts, and the border wall are major hurdles as Congress faces a new Dec. 7 deadline to fully fund the government. On this week’s episode of Suspending the Rules, Bloomberg Government's Michael Smallberg breaks down some of these debates. Last week, the House passed a bill that would be the first long-term reauthorization for the Federal Aviation Administration since 2012. In the second segment, Bloomberg Government's Sarah Babbage and Shaun Courtney discuss what’s in the deal and why the multiyear extension has been stuck on the tarmac for so long. Hosts and Producers: Adam M. Taylor and Adam Schank. Engineer: Nicholas Anzalotta-Kynoch.