This is an opinion column.

Expect high morale on Capitol Hill this week as the 118th Congress just cleared its first major legislative hurdle, passing a carefully negotiated package to avoid an unprecedented default while also cutting future spending. In the end, the debt deal was a true compromise—by definition, few love it. Even so, most are happy the issue is now off the table.

Will the good vibe last? Probably not. Enjoy it while you can.

The Schedule…

The House of Representatives returned Monday, with the Committee on Rules preparing four anti-regulation bills important to conservatives. These include H.R. 277, the ‘’REINS Act of 2023,” which would require congressional approval of “major rules” promulgated by the Executive Branch that have a $100 million or more annual impact on the economy.

For court watchers, the House also appears poised to take up H.R. 288, the Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2023 (SOPRA). If enacted, SOPRA would override the Chevron deference doctrine, wherein federal courts defer to a government agency’s own interpretation of ambiguous statutes impacting its authority. SOPRA would require courts to review the laws “de novo” to exercise judicial judgment as to the true meaning of the statute.