This is going to be an unusual December, and a nice one for Michael Kaiser, our Executive Vice President and Director of Government Affairs.
In most years, Congress delays the budget process until the very end of the month, meaning that lobbyists like Michael have to stay in touch and do what they can amidst the year-end chaos. But this year a Continuing Resolution (CR) was passed that will continue funding the government through the end of this year and most of January, so that will now be the crazy month, but at least it doesn’t conflict with family holidays.
This week Congress once again did little but fight, so there’s really nothing to report—but a large bipartisan House vote did expel Rep. George Santos (R-NY). Overall, 2023 has been the least productive year in Congress since 1931 in terms of actual legislative accomplishments (that’s 92 years!). As Michael Kaiser said, “It seems to have been a lost year that never even got started.”
But Wait! The year’s real highlight was Wednesday’s legislative wine reception which WineAmerica co-hosted with Wine Institute and the Congressional Wine Caucus. It was clear how eager legislators and staff were to do something fun by the overwhelming number of immediate RSVPs when the invitation went out. We were glad to accommodate them, and feature the wines from our Board members.
Michael Kaiser with Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) and Congressional Wine Caucus co-chairs Rep. Dan Newhause (R-WA) and Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA)
