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Season 5, Episode 64

Division in Congress creating a poor success rate for potential bills

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America's Work Force Union Podcast AFL-CIO AWF

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Bill Samuel

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Bill Samuel, Director of Government Affairs for the AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the passage of a Federal budget for this fiscal year, and how the political division in Congress has led to the least amount of legislation passed during a Congressional Session in history.

The Federal Budget for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 24) has been approved but that ends Sept. 30, leaving only six months before the new budget deadline. It’s been a long journey to this point, Samuel said. He has no hope that the current Congress will be able to get a budget figured out before the deadline.

There are several renewals coming up for various federal programs, including the Federal Aviation Association’s recertification. Because the current members of Congress don’t seem to be able to reach a consensus, Samuel is concerned that the remainder of this session will see no new legislation approved. He outlined the issues with the Republican Party’s divide in Congress and why he believes that is the driving force behind the lack of action.

The election year has created an environment where the recently released budget proposals from President Joe Biden and the House Republicans won’t mean anything until after the general election on Nov. 5. On the reverse side of the conversation, the Republican budget proposal has left Samuel with several concerns. He then discussed the differences between the proposals, including the obvious difference in potential program cuts. Samuel said that both proposals have their issues but will likely be fixed depending on the November election results.

Hear more from Samuel by listening to the show above.

America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.

America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, American Alliance for Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North America, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, Survey and Ballot Systems, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers.

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