This week, Republican efforts to pass a tax reform package is likely to come to a head with the clock running out on 2017. The Conference Committee will meet on Wednesday in hopes of putting the finishing touches on a bill that would then have to be passed again by the House & Senate. Senator Susan Collins told a Sunday news program that her vote was not final, in light of the news that the House may not consider ACA fixes to counteract the repeal of the individual mandate. The Senate tax bill got 51 votes (with Senator Corker (TN) as the only Republican to vote no). Do Senate Republicans need Susan Collins’ vote on the tax bill? We will know when results come in from Alabama tomorrow night.

Meanwhile, Congress still must find a path forward on a government funding bill after passing a short-term extension last week through December 22nd.The short-term extension last week included relief for states who are close to exhausting funding for their CHIP program. While all signs still point to Congress passing the CHIP minibus before the year is out, the final details for those provisions are heavily dependent on the broader government funding agreement.