On The Money: Democrats get to the hard part | TheHill – The Hill
Happy Monday and welcome to On The Money, your nightly guide to everything affecting your bills, bank account and bottom line. Subscribe here: thehill.com/newsletter-signup.
Todays Big Deal: House Democrats are now hitting the most challenging stretch of their infrastructure push. Well also look at an ethics review at the Federal Reserve and how much of President BidenJoe BidenTrump endorses challenger in Michigan AG race On The Money: Democrats get to the hard part Health Care GOP attorneys general warn of legal battle over Biden's vaccine mandate MOREs relief bill actually made it to American families.
But first, a wholesome Giannis moment.
For The Hill, Im Sylvan Lane. Write me at slane@thehill.com or @SylvanLane. You can reach my colleagues on the Finance team Naomi Jagoda at njagoda@thehill.com or @NJagoda and Aris Folley at afolley@thehill.com or @ArisFolley.
Lets get to it.
Democrats brace for toughest stretch yet with Biden agenda
House Democrats this week wrapped up the bulk of committee work on a $3.5 trillion package of social benefits and climate programs a massive undertaking that advances what would be a legacy-defining domestic agenda for President Biden.
Now the harder part begins.
While 13 separate committees succeeded in drafting, massaging and ultimately approving the portions of the package under their jurisdiction, the process featured plenty of infighting between disparate factions over various provisions differences that have created headaches for Democratic leaders and will need resolving before the legislation hits the floor.
The combination is raising new questions about whether House leaders have the votes to pass the package on the floor with a minuscule majority. And thats all before the looming fight in the evenly split Senate, where Democrats can afford zero defections.
The Hills Mike Lillis and Scott Wong break it down here.
PRESENTED BY WELLS FARGO
D.C. small businesses receive $10M from Wells Fargo
Eddie Lofton of JC Lofton Tailors on U Street is rebuilding his business with a grant from nonprofit LISC D.C.
Wells Fargos Open for Business Fund, a small business recovery effort has donated $10M to nonprofits that support District businesses to date.
LEADING THE DAY
Over $450B in COVID-19 relief funds delivered to families: Treasury
The Treasury Department said in a new report on Thursday that it has delivered over $450 billion to families directly under the $1.9 trillion coronavirus rescue package President Biden signed earlier this year.
Overall, the agency said it has distributed roughly $700 billion out of the $1 trillion it was tasked with managing in programs and tax credits under the presidents American Rescue Plan that was approved by Congress shortly before spring. Aris has more details here.
TAKING STOCK
Federal Reserve officials' stock trading sparks ethics review
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has directed officials at the central bank to take a comprehensive look into the ethics rules surrounding permissible financial holdings and activities by senior staff.
A spokesperson confirmed to The Hill on Thursday that Powell issued the directive last week after reports emerged of stock trades made by leaders at the Fed's banks in Dallas and Boston last year.
While both bank presidents said they complied with ethics rules, they later said they would divest their assets to avoid the appearance of any conflict of interest. Heres the full story from Aris.
BIDEN BASHES BIG BIZ
Biden goes after top 1 percent in defending tax hikes
President Biden on Thursday went after big corporations and wealthy Americans while promoting his economic agenda that congressional Democrats are working to get across the finish line.
Let me ask you this, where is it written in that all the tax breaks in the American tax code go to corporations and the very top? I think its enough, Im tired of it, he said in remarks at the White House on the economy.
The president reiterated his calls for big corporations and the wealthy to pay their fair share in taxes, saying it's long overdue.
Im not out to punish anyone, Im a capitalist. If you can make a million or a billion dollars, thats great. God bless you. All Im asking is you pay your fair share, pay your fair share, just like middle class folks do, he said.
The Hills Alex Gangitano takes us there.
A MESSAGE FROM WELLS FARGO
D.C. diner rebuilds with help from nonprofit & Wells Fargo
Flip-It LJ Diner owner Sandra Foote didnt think her Columbia Heights restaurant could survive COVID-19.
Wells Fargos Open for Business Fundprovided a grant to the nonprofit District Bridges, which then helped Sandra cover bills. .
Good to Know
Retail sales rose slightly in August despite soaring cases of COVID-19 and supply chain snags, reversing from a decline in July and beating expectations of another decrease.
Heres what else have our eye on:
Thats it for today. Thanks for reading and check out The Hills Finance page for the latest news and coverage. Well see you tomorrow.
Read more:
On The Money: Democrats get to the hard part | TheHill - The Hill
- Democrats Still Have No Idea What Went Wrong - The Atlantic - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Democrats are defying the conventional wisdom on government shutdowns - MSNBC News - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- POLL: Americans Want Democrats to END Their Shutdown - The White House (.gov) - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Why Democrats Are Casting the Government Shutdown as a Health Care Showdown - KFF Health News - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Trump calls on Democrats to reopen government, will then work on health care - The Hill - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Why Democrats are casting the government shutdown as a health care showdown - NPR - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Democrats see a path to flipping the crime debate - Politico - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Jeffries: Trump is not talking to Democrats about health care, ending shutdown - The Hill - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Worth the fight: Delaware congressional Democrats vow to stand firm on health care funding to reopen government - WHYY - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Trump Eyes Health Care Talks With Democrats to End Shutdown - Bloomberg.com - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Georgia Democrats rally around condemnation of Trump at their annual fundraising dinner - Georgia Public Broadcasting - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Speaker Johnson says its up to Democrats to stop the madness on shutdowns sixth day - thealpenanews.com - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Trump says he's open to striking deal with Democrats on extending health care subsidies - USA Today - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- CNU poll: Democrats poised for sweep but AG's race was closest of three before Jones' text messages revealed - Cardinal News - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Can this faith-filled Texas progressive lead Democrats out of the wilderness? - National Catholic Reporter - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Trump Open to Healthcare Talks With Democrats to End Shutdown - The Wall Street Journal - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Trump says hes open to health care deal with Democrats as shutdown hits Day 6 - The Seattle Times - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Watch Shutdown: Trump Eyes Talks With Democrats on Health Care - Bloomberg.com - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Trump says hes open to health care deal with Democrats as shutdown hits Day 6 - KWTX - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- White House warns of 'pain' inflicted on Americans if Democrats don't reopen government - Fox News - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Democrats are embracing the risky politics of a government shutdown to rein in president, activists say - The Guardian - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- To Win the Shutdown, Democrats Need a Big Switch - The American Prospect - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Susan Collins opposes Trump's shutdown layoff threats, but blames Democrats for the funding impasse - Maine Public - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- One win isnt enough for Democrats in this years governors races - Roll Call - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Trump Team Auditions 2026 Hopefuls to Save Agenda From Democrats - Bloomberg Government News - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- US Senate rejects Democrats spending bill as government shutdown continues - Anadolu Ajans - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Democrats defiance on shutdown shows a new, tougher approach to Trump - The Washington Post - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Mamdani Is More Foe Than Friend in the Suburbs, Even Among Democrats - The New York Times - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Speaker Johnson to Democrats on Day Three of the Shutdown: Do Your Job, Reopen the Government, Then We Can Get Back to Work - Congressman Mike Johnson... - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Democrats Government Shutdown Will Not Slow ICE Down from Arresting the Worst of the Worst Including Pedophiles, Murderers and Human Traffickers -... - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- House Oversight Democrats call for investigation into Trump administrations shutdown messages - PBS - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Chairman Cole on Fox Business: Democrats Inflicted a Shutdown on America - House Committee on Appropriations (.gov) - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Does agency messaging blaming Democrats for government shutdown violate the Hatch Act? - Government Executive - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- How Democrats think they can win the shutdown - MSNBC News - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Democrats are doing more to resist Trump than their voters think - vox.com - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Don't believe the Democrats on health care fight, says Dan Crenshaw - Houston Chronicle - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Out-of-office messages blaming Democrats for shutdown sent on behalf of some federal workers without their consent - CNN - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- The blame game is on at federal agencies, where political messages fault Democrats for the shutdown - AP News - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Poll finds more Americans blame Trump, GOP for shutdown than Democrats - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Kennedy on Democrats government shutdown: I dont think Sen. Schumer is the person in charge - U.S. Senate (.gov) - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Government Workers Say Their Out-of-Office Replies Were Forcibly Changed to Blame Democrats for Shutdown - WIRED - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Democrats Accuse Administration of Cutting Spending at NASA and NOAA - AIP.ORG - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Trump Uses Shutdown to Maximize Pain for Democrats and Move Forward With Layoffs - The New York Times - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- The other reason Democrats are taking Trump to the mat in a shutdown battle - Politico - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Democrats voted for a shutdown. Now they have to find a way out - AP News - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Government Shutdown Live Updates: Trump and Republicans' Deadlock With Democrats Drags On - The New York Times - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Democrats got their shutdown, but they just gave Trump and DOGE a big win | Opinion - USA Today - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Maryland Democrats in Washington urge talks to end government shutdown - Maryland Matters - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- White House threat of new green cuts has Democrats seeing red - Politico - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Democrats take the fight to Trump on government shutdown - Axios - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Government agencies are blaming the shutdown on Democrats. Ethics experts say it could be against the law. - Politico - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- At hearing, Democrats say the redistricting process was flawed from the start - KERA News - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Health care is key for Democrats in shutdown fight. Heres what to know. - The Washington Post - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Are Democrats or Republicans to blame for the looming government shutdown? Heres what our poll found - PBS - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Cruz posts video of Democrats wearing sombreros, cartoon mustaches - The Hill - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Democrats battling with GOP to avoid devastating health care cuts, Rep. Ivey says - PBS - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Leggat-Barr 28: Democrats need to disagree more - The Brown Daily Herald - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Trump Is Using Government Websites to Blame Democrats for the Shutdown - Truthout - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Government shutdown live updates: Trump and Democrats dig in as federal employees face furloughs - NBC News - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Democrats are putting money into solidly red Mississippi. Heres why. - The Washington Post - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Democrats embrace a shutdown fight in a rare moment of unity against Trump - AP News - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- The US in brief: Will Democrats yield to pressure? - The Economist - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Republicans falsely claiming Democrats want to give free health care to those without legal status - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- This is their shutdown: Democrats and Republicans blame each other as government closes down - The Guardian - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Opinion | John Thune: What Democrats are demanding isnt negotiation - The Washington Post - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Top Democrats optimistic Trump could negotiate on health care but not in time to avert a shutdown - CNN - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- The left is right about the Democrats - Slow Boring - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on Democrats approach to negotiations with Trump - PBS - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Speaker Johnson on Fox News: Democrats Will Shut Down the Government Just to Satisfy Their Far-Left Base - Congressman Mike Johnson (.gov) - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Vance says US 'headed to a shutdown' after meeting with Democrats - Reuters - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Barrasso Blasts Democrats Over Schumer Shutdown on Fox News The Sunday Briefing - U.S. Senate (.gov) - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Democrats are turning up the heat on Mike Johnson over a delay in the Epstein files vote - Axios - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Trump and congressional Democrats still at odds over funding bill - CBS News - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- US Senate Democrats weighing short stopgap funding bill as alternative to government shutdown - Reuters - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Vance: US headed for shutdown because the Democrats wont do the right thing - The Hill - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Democrats refuse to cave on health care before meeting with Trump on government shutdown - CNBC - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Vance Says US Headed for Shutdown After Talks With Democrats - Bloomberg.com - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Reporter's Notebook: Democrats' shutdown gamble reveals party divisions, Schumer's weak spot with the left - Fox News - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- "No one is safe": Democrats fear Trump will prosecute them next - Axios - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Full List of Democrats Urging Trump Admin to Protect Gaza Flotilla - Newsweek - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]