| | | | | |  | | By Melanie Zanona | Presented by |  | | | with help from Heather Caygle and Burgess Everett DEAL OR NO DEAL? -- A few days ago, it looked like we would have a government funding deal and no coronavirus relief package before the holidays. But now, it's looking like it could be the opposite. While lawmakers are struggling to wrap up work on an omnibus spending bill before the Dec. 11 deadline, optimism is growing that Congress might actually be able to clinch an agreement on some coronavirus aid. The latest sign of progress : Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker Nancy Pelosi talked by phone for the first time since the election about a potential stimulus deal. "Yeah, well we had a good conversation. I think we're both interested in getting an outcome, both on the omnibus and on a coronavirus package," McConnell said. So what broke the logjam? Leaders were under mounting pressure to cut a deal, with the pandemic raging and a slew of aid programs set to expire before the end of the year. But centrist lawmakers in the Senate and House also played a key role in jump-starting the talks, bucking their leadership to introduce their own bipartisan plan this week. This is the most movement we've seen in months, and it's clear everyone wants a deal before Christmas. But the proposal released by moderates this week has yet to be put into actual legislative text, and there are still some more compromises that need to be made. So the devil's in the details, as they say. All the latest from Heather, Burgess and Sarah: https://politi.co/3lEJJyj. MEANWHILE … President Donald Trump continues to dig in on his threats to veto an annual defense policy bill if it doesn't include his demands for a totally unrelated provision. "But doesn't get rid of Big Tech's windfall, Section 230, a grave threat to National Security. I will VETO!" he tweeted. The House and Senate may have enough to override a presidential veto, however. LIFE OF LAMAR -- "Lamar stands firm in his last days in the Senate," from Burgess: https://politi.co/3glNwQh. | | | | A message from McDonald's: Yenis started as a crew member at McDonald's speaking limited English. After taking free English language courses through McDonald's, Yenis improved her fluency and boosted her career opportunities. Today, she is the training manager for 19 restaurants. Learn how Yenis and others succeed at McDonald's. | | | CABINET CONCERNS -- The Congressional Hispanic Caucus held a call yesterday with members of the Biden transition team, where the CHC "reiterated the importance of Latino and Latina representation in the incoming Biden-Harris administration, particularly in the Cabinet," the group said in a statement. During the private call, Sen.-elect Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) expressed frustration over a leak from the Biden camp about how Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham fell out of favor for HHS secretary and then turned down an offer for Interior secretary, report Laura Barron-Lopez and Heather. "That's not how family looks after each other," Lujan said. Biden's incoming chief of staff Ron Klain apologized and vowed to clamp down on leaks. What else was said on the call: While CHC members have been pushing for a Latino to be tapped for one of the "Big Four" Cabinet posts — Attorney General, Treasury, State or Defense — Klain told lawmakers: "We don't see it as a 'Big Four' but a 'Big Six.'" He said the Homeland Security and Health and Human Services departments will have equal stature. Next up: Biden transition leaders also plan to meet Monday with the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Related: "New candidates for Agriculture secretary emerge as Biden faces pushback on Heitkamp," by Liz Crampton, Helena Bottemiller Evich, and Megan Casella: https://politi.co/36GnJiw. YOU QAN'T SIT WITH US -- House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) sent around a letter, obtained by Heather, to provide updated details about the opening day of the new Congress, which will take place on Sunday, Jan. 3. He also emphasized the importance of lawmakers being physically present to count electoral votes on Jan. 6. New members will also need to be physically present to be sworn in. But there's one line that raised some eyebrows: "It is my hope and expectation that we will remain united as the new Congress gets underway. … This is especially important as we vote for Speaker of the House. Our caucus recently nominated Speaker Pelosi by voice. Make no mistake, any vote not for the Speaker on the House Floor will be counted against her and for Kevin McCarthy and the QAnon wing of the Republican Party." Some moderate Dems — including those who voted against Pelosi for speaker last time — were upset over that suggestion, per Heather and Sarah. With a slimmer Dem majority next year, Pelosi can't afford to lose as many Democrats as she did last time, though she is still expected to pull it off. SPEAKING of swearing in new members … Rep.-elect Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) has a tweet that perfectly captures what it's like to be a freshman. "I'm like a kid lost at a fun park. Staying in place and standing still until my Chief comes and gets me," she tweeted, along with a pic of her in a custom "Mace" mask. "Lost in the Capitol. I did make it through the tunnels today and I'm gonna take that as a win!" Related: "No cheers or jeers at the mostly virtual House office lottery," by Roll Call's Katherine Tully McManus: https://bit.ly/3lBRK73. AREN'T YOU GLAD IT'S FRIDAY?! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Dec. 4, where your host gives props to Rep. Earl Blumenauer for wearing a marijuana leaf mask to preside over the floor during a vote on a bill to decriminalize weed. Other lawmakers, step your game up. FRIDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Axios' report on Sen. Jim Inhofe's phone call with Trump over NDAA was the big winner.
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WILMINGTON, DELAWARE - DECEMBER 02: U.S. President-elect Joe Biden waves as he arrives for a virtual roundtable with workers and small business owners at The Queen Theatre on December 2, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. President-elect Biden held the meeting to discuss with workers and small business owners impacted by the economic crisis.. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) | Alex Wong/Getty Images | | | | |   | | | PURPLE REIGN -- It's official: Democrats elected Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), known for her eclectic style and colorful hairdos, to serve as the next chairwoman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. She will replace Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) who is retiring. DeLauro, a Pelosi ally, won in a 148-79 caucus-wide vote. More deets from Caitlin Emma: https://politi.co/3lHydlV. Dems also selected Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney to serve as their next campaign chief, beating out Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.). Like the previous DCCC chair, Maloney represents a Trump district. And he also touted his experience running as a gay man with a biracial family. But with Dems fresh off a disappointing election cycle and their majority at risk, Maloney has a tough job ahead of him. The story from Sarah and Ally Mutnick: https://politi.co/2VDTKRW. Related: "Columbus Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty selected to chair the Congressional Black Caucus," by Sabrina Eaton of Cleveland.com: https://bit.ly/2IaPvdk. MO-JO -- Trump thanked Rep. Mo Brooks in a tweet yesterday, after your Huddle host reported that the Alabama Republican plans to challenge Joe Biden's Electoral College victory when Congress officially certifies the election results on Jan. 6. The previous day, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Trump had not spoken to any members of Congress about the idea. But Trump's tweet shows that he is supportive of the last-ditch effort by his Hill allies to try to overturn the election — an effort that won't succeed, but could prove to be more of a loyalty test in the GOP. So far, however, no senators have decided to join forces with Brooks. Meanwhile … Biden told CNN's Jake Tapper last night that "more than several" Republican senators have called to congratulate him on his win, but he didn't name names. PLEASE DON'T PARDON -- "Trump mulls preemptive pardons for up to 20 allies, even as Republicans balk," by Anita Kumar and Andrew: https://politi.co/2JK2xiy. | | | | TUNE IN TO OUR GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS PODCAST: The world has long been beset by big problems that defy political boundaries, and these issues have exploded in 2020 amid a global pandemic. Global Translations podcast, presented by Citi, unpacks the roadblocks to smart policy decisions and examines the long-term costs of the short-term thinking that drives many political and business decisions. Subscribe for Season Two, available now. | | | | | PUFF, PUFF, PASS THE BILL -- The House will vote today on a bill to decriminalize marijuana. A preview from ABC News: "For the first time in congressional history, House Democrats are poised for a vote Friday on a long-shot measure that would decriminalize marijuana use at the federal level -- months after pulling the bill amid worries the controversial vote could cause some lawmakers to lose tight races in November. "The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement Act would also mandate a reassessment of prior marijuana convictions, invest in services for people caught up in the war on drugs and open Small Business Administration funding for legitimate cannabis-related businesses. "Despite widespread support fr om Democrats in the House of Representatives, the bill stands almost no chance of becoming law in the current session of Congress due to a Republican firewall in the Senate and President Donald Trump still occupying the White House. Biden campaigned in favor of decriminalizing marijuana." More from John Parkinson: https://abcn.ws/2VEBGqB. Related: "House GOP uses procedural tool to protest proxy voting," from The Hill's Juliegrace Brufke and Olivia Beavers: https://bit.ly/37x0QNG. THE CORY STORY -- Senators are wondering whether Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), who lost to Democratic candidate John Hickenlooper last month, might consider either running against Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) or Gov. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) in 2022. In a brief interview, however, Gardner declined to engage on those hypotheticals: "Considering the to-do list that my wife has given me, it is long and substantial. And if it doesn't get addressed there's going to be a major crisis at the Gardner household. I've gotten some of it done, but more work needs to be done." I <3 NY -- "New York House rematch plays out the only way it could — strange and complicated," from Anna Gronewold: https://politi.co/2VEe59u. | | | | NEXT WEEK - DON'T MISS THE MILKEN INSTITUTE FUTURE OF HEALTH SUMMIT 2020: POLITICO will feature a special edition Future Pulse newsletter at the Milken Institute Future of Health Summit. The newsletter takes readers inside one of the most influential gatherings of global health industry leaders and innovators determined to confront and conquer the most significant health challenges. Covid-19 has exposed weaknesses across our health systems, particularly in the treatment of our most vulnerable communities, driving the focus of the 2020 conference on the converging crises of public health, economic insecurity, and social justice. Sign up today to receive exclusive coverage from December 7–9. | | | | |
|  | TRANSITIONS | | Jazmin Vargas is now press secretary for Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.). She previously was press secretary at BOLD PAC, the campaign arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Jake Hochberg is now legislative director for Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.). He previously was senior legislative assistant for Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), and is a Nydia Velázquez alum. Seth Klaiman will be COS for Rhode Island General Treasurer Seth Magaziner. He previously was COS for Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.). | | TODAY IN CONGRESS | | The House gavels in at 9 a.m., with votes around 10:30 a.m. Today's agenda: https://bit.ly/2Jr0kc1. The Senate is out. | | AROUND THE HILL | | Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) holds her weekly press conference at 10:45 a.m. in HVC Studio A. | | TRIVIA | | THURSDAY'S WINNER: Joe Bookman was the first person to guess that Tommy Thompson resigned on Dec. 3 in 2004 and issued a warning about how terrorists might attack our food supply during a flu epidemic. TODAY'S QUESTION: From Joe: Name three former Secretaries of Treasury who went on to serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess to mzanona@politico.com. GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning. | | | | A message from McDonald's: Yenis started working at McDonald's with big ambitions — but limited English skills. So she seized opportunities to take free English language courses from McDonald's, helping propel her from crew member to training manager. Today she leads hundreds of training sessions for restaurant employees. And uses her bilingual skills to help others succeed.
There are thousands of stories like Yenis' at McDonald's, where restaurant employees can develop skills that are useful throughout their career, helping them learn, grow, and achieve their goals. In addition to resources that support restaurant employee's development, like English Under the Arches, McDonald's offers the opportunity to develop work readiness skills sought after by hiring managers across the nation — teamwork, customer service, time management, and responsibility.
Learn how Yenis and others build careers at McDonald's. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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