8 Fall 2014 | IACPRx.org ELECTION RESULTS: A LOOK FROM WASHINGTON ON WHAT’S IN STORE by Cynthia E. Blankenship, Esq. Most of the elections are over, and the political ads have for most of us living outside of the eight undecided races have ceased – but what does the result of the election mean for compounding pharmacists? This article will explore what changes will occur when the new Congress reconvenes, the timeframe under which the current Congress is working during Lame Duck, and what all that could mean for compounding pharmacists. Current Congress The current Congress will be concluding its business during the Lame Duck Session that stretches from November 12th until the new, 114th Congress convenes on January 3rd. The current Senate/House convenes on November 12, 2014 with the House set to vote on five pieces of legislation, and the Senate expected to start discussion on the Administration’s nominations. The Republican Party is expected to have its leadership elections for both the House and Senate on November 13th. The House Democrats are expected to host their leadership elections on November 18th. For those looking at the timeframe ahead for any spending legislation - with Congress leaving for the Thanksgiving holiday, the Louisiana runoff occurring on December 6th, and the current Continuing Resolution set to expire on December 11th, Congress is working with about three weeks total to pass some type of spending legislation to keep the government open past December 11th. Congress, is therefore, faced with two options in the coming weeks: to pass another short-term Continuing Resolution or to pass a longer spending legislation often called an Omnibus bill. It is very likely that the Republican Party will not want its new Members to have to cast their first votes on spending legislation. Thus, there is a strong incentive to try to proceed with a long-term spending legislation before the 114th Congress takes their seats. While spending legislation is the only must-do piece of legislation for the current Congress, many Members and Senators have expressed desire to address defense authorization, tax extenders, and various nominations. 114th Congress After the elections, the Balance of Power in the 114th Congress in the Senate will be 53 Republican Senators and 46 Democrat Senators (including the two Independents that Caucus with Democrats) with one race, Louisiana, still undecided. The House Balance of Power will be 244 Republican Representatives and 184 Democrat Representatives with seven races still undecided. The flip of the Senate and the increase of Republicans in the House leaves many Chairmanships in question. That means many changes for the Committees with jurisdiction over issues impacting compounding pharmacists. 114th Senate Chairmanships: On the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) could return as Chairman for two more Congresses if he chooses to leave the Agriculture Committee. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) will likely remain the top seat for the Democrats and take on the Ranking Member position. On Senate Budget, Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) will likely assume the
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