Despite the partisan battles that have led to near constant gridlock in the Capitol over the past few years, lawmakers ended 2013 on a positive note. Democrats and Republicans were able to overcome their differences to produce a bipartisan compromise on the federal budget, helping to alleviate the threat of another government shutdown and providing some sequestration relief. As Congress moves into 2014, this newfound bipartisanship will be put to the test when legislators must pass an omnibus appropriations bill to fund the government by January 15 and agree to raise the debt ceiling by spring.  Aside from fiscal issues, Washington saw movement on healthcare issues—including proposals to permanently replace the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR)—while progress moved at a slower pace on other key initiatives like tax reform and the Farm Bill.Continue reading→