(Nov. 7, 2024) - As the dust settles on the 2024 election, it is becoming increasingly clear that President-Elect Donald Trump will have smooth sailing in getting his cabinet appointees through the Senate and likely small but relatively stable majorities in both the House and Senate to push his agenda.
As of this moment, it seems likely that Republicans will have at least a 53-47 majority in the Senate pending the outcome of the election in Pennsylvania. Republican Dave McCormick has maintained a small but durable lead over incumbent Democrat Bob Casey throughout the past few days. This should be a comfortable margin through which President-Elect Trump should be able to get all his cabinet and judicial appointees approved. While Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has publicly said that Trump promised him control over various public health agencies, this does not mean he is slated to be the President-Elect's U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary nominee. White House staff who do not need to be confirmed by the Senate can have enormous influence over the direction of public policy.
Republicans are set to take a small majority in the House of Representatives. The end of the current 118th Congress will see 220 Republicans and 212 Democrats vote on the remainder of this year's legislative business. In January, the 119th Congress will have between 220 and 222 Republicans and between 213 and 215 Democrats. The gap could be even narrower. However, this group of Republicans will likely be more united than in the past couple of years because they will have a party leader in the White House setting the agenda.
For Kansas providers, this alignment means that our congressional delegation will see an increase in their influence on legislative outcomes. For instance, Senator Jerry Moran will now be an appropriations subcommittee chairman and a senior majority member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee. This Congress will likely be more sensitive to the needs of states that have not expanded Medicaid. However, Kansas hospitals may be in a more defensive position on some issues, like Medicare site-neutral payment schemes.
People matter too, and next week, Kansas Hospital Association staff and members will be in Washington, D.C., while both chambers will be going through their process of deciding leadership and members on committees for the next two years. This will set the tone for the issues likely to be reviewed for statutory changes. We will make sure KHA members are a part of the discussion.