US House Dems will push new policy agenda

Significance

This follows the 116th Congress’s swearing-in on January 3, heralding a Democratic House majority and Nancy Pelosi's second term as House speaker. It also follows the January 4 introduction of the Democratic-led House’s first bill, the For the People Act (‘HR 1’), a ‘wish-list’ of Democratic priorities including campaign finance reform, increasing and protecting voting rights, and strengthening government ethics requirements.

Impacts

• Corporates face greater scrutiny of their hiring decisions and campaign finance contributions by the House.
• A Trump impeachment is currently unlikely, but the House will investigate his administration reasonably extensively.
• House Democrats will increase scrutiny of corporates’ green credentials.
• Trump faces greater scrutiny of his use of war powers; absent partisanship, Congress could introduce greater constraints.