| | | | | |  | | By Olivia Beavers | Presented by |  | | | Welcome back Huddlers! The House and Senate are out this week, but there's still a lot to watch for. Let's dive in: RECONCILING: House Democrats are aiming to hold a floor vote on their Covid relief package next week, ahead of a March 14 deadline (when key unemployment provisions expire). The House Budget Committee is expected to combine the various pieces of the bill into a reconciliation vehicle, after nine House panels held marathon budget hearings last week. Some lawmakers were spotted knitting, sleeping and on the move amid the hours-long hearings. Budget Chairman John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) has yet to notice an official hearing. Most Republicans are not on board with Biden's $1.9 trillion plan. They argue the price tag is too high and the bill should be more targeted, object to the minimum wage hike, and add that Democrats are pushing for way too much in state and local aid. This decision to oppose stimulus is risky -- one that certainly will be included in Dem messaging going forward. The next steps: The Rules Committee will determine the procedures governing debate over the package before the Covid relief package heads to the floor. Then, the Senate will need to pull together and vote on its own version of the bill. The two chambers must then reconcile the differences in their two bills before a final bill is sent to Biden's desk. Keep an eye out for the minimum wage debate...The Hill's Alex Gangitano has you covered with key players to watch on this fight: http://bit.ly/3anSuKL FIRST IN HUDDLE: Democrats are doing a series of issue-specific caucus calls ahead of finalizing Biden's Covid relief bill, which they say is an effort to "maximize the dissemination of information" during the reconciliation process. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, shared the following schedule in an email to his colleagues, which Heather got: Today at 1 p.m. The Caucus meeting featuring Budget and Rules … then today at 2 p.m. the Ways and Means, Oversight and Veterans Affairs conference calls… tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. the Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, and then Agriculture and Science, Space, and Technology… and then also a call tomorrow at 5 p.m. with Transportation and Infrastructure, Small Business, Financial Services, and Foreign Affairs. "Each call will include an overview by the relevant committee chairs on the substantive provisions of interest in the budget resolution," Jeffries wrote in the email. | | A message from Save The Inventor: Big Tech and large corporations are stealing ideas and innovations – we call them Patent Pirates. These organizations are infringing on inventor's patents in deliberate and damaging ways. As inventors, we need to protect each other. That's why we support the STRONGER Patents Act. This bipartisan bill will restore the protections our inventors, universities, and start-ups need to stop patent pirates in their tracks. Today's pirates don't wield a cutlass. They steal ideas. Learn more. | | | NOMS NOMS NOMS: Post-impeachment, the Senate can now shift gears and focus on confirming Joe Biden's nominations, with just seven out of Biden's 23 Cabinet picks approved so far. The big one: Merrick Garland, Biden's pick to lead his Justice Department, will finally get his long-awaited confirmation hearing before the Senate early next week. Garland may be confronted with investigating Biden's predecessor with some legal experts saying Donald Trump and his Senate ally, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), may have exposed themselves to legal liability over their separate alleged efforts to pressure Georgia Secretary of State Raffensperger to "find 11,780 votes." Biden is also missing some other big Cabinet picks, including those he has tapped to lead HHS, OMB, EPA, HUD, and the Education Department. Here is POLITICO's interactive on the status of Biden's noms: https://politi.co/3oQZdku NEXT (NEXT) UP: The White House is already having meetings to discuss policy items on the agenda after the relief bill passes, including a massive infrastructure and green jobs plan that the administration wants to unveil in the coming weeks as well as proposals aimed at addressing immigration and climate change, immigration, NYT's Michael Shear reports. There have already been various pushes on the Hill for climate and immigration related policy. The catch: Despite Democrats controlling the White House and both chambers of Congress, their control is narrow and will require some GOP support to help beat a Republican filibuster in the Senate in order to get some of these priorities passed. And some Republicans are already signaling they plan to fight. "My goal is to win in 2022 to stop the most radical agenda I've seen coming out of the Democratic presidency of Joe Biden," Graham told FOX News Sunday. More here from Shear: http://nyti.ms/3poCTPo Related Read: GOP tries to weaponize pandemic-exhausted parents against Biden by Christopher Cadelago and Natasha Korecki: http://politi.co/2ZrNzSB STOP THE GAMES: There is also a highly anticipated hearing this week over the recent GameStop and AMC Entertainment stock debacle. The CEOs of Robinhood, Citadel, Melvin Capital and Reddit are just some of the witnesses slated to testify before the House Financial Services Committee and members of both parties are sharpening their knives. Our Victoria Guida has more: http://politi.co/3bb6Z3J | | | | TUNE IN TO GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS: Our Global Translations podcast, presented by Citi, examines the long-term costs of the short-term thinking that drives many political and business decisions. The world has long been beset by big problems that defy political boundaries, and these issues have exploded over the past year amid a global pandemic. This podcast helps to identify and understand the impediments to smart policymaking. Subscribe and start listening today. | | | | | HAPPY TUESDAY! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill on this Feb. 16, where this meme speaks to a lot of us. You know who you are. FRIDAY'S MOST CLICKED: The Dallas News' story about the man who died by suicide outside of Rep. Van Duyne's house was a former staffer of the Texas freshman was the winner. NOT OVER: Lawmakers aren't done with Jan. 6. Speaker Nancy Pelosi reiterated Monday that the House will move quickly to establish a 9/11 Commission-style review of the deadly insurrection and the security failures. Earlier this month, she noted the need for a commission and supplemental funding to go towards members' security in the coming weeks, but this latest push comes just after the Senate voted to acquit Trump. The security review Pelosi commissioned Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré to lead is expected to end on March 5. The idea has bipartisan support. So…The big unanswered question is, when will we see the actual legislation for both? Kyle has more on this push: http://politi.co/3rX4x7U Related Reads: Dozens charged in Capitol riots spewed extremist rhetoric by the AP's Michael Kunzelman and Amanda Seitz: http://bit.ly/37hiipO | New radio and video footage from Capitol riot shows a coordinated attack and officers' restraint by CNN's Whitney Wild, Jeremy Herb and Tom Foreman: http://cnn.it/3tYOgRA IMPEACHMENT BOOST: There are some lawmakers who are seeing their career trajectories change after the Senate impeachment trial, some for the better and some possibly for the worse. Rep. Joaquin Castro, who had some star power previously, has caught the attention of Democratic strategists who think he could potentially run statewide in Texas. And after just two terms in the House, Reps. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) and Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) are seen as rising stars after their performances during the trial. Dean is being discussed as a potential candidate for the open Senate seat in Pennsylvania in 2022, and a former aide to Jeb Bush praised the Colorado Democrat for his presentations, saying he gave his "2004 convention speech," a nod to former President Barack Obama's political breakout moment. Our Holly Otterbein has more: http://politi.co/2N8IkVz Meanwhile…spotted in Raskin's district, some messages thanking him for his role in the trial. See the pic. SCHIFF'S CAREER SHIFT: Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) has become a darling on the left -- and a punching bag on the right -- first over his role leading the Trump Russia probe and then as lead impeachment manager during the first impeachment inquiry into Trump's contacts with Ukraine. During this past impeachment trial, Schiff was there to lend a guiding hand, acting as the QB who helped get out the Dem message on various TV hits as well as advice to the managers who wanted it. Now in a post-Trump White House, Schiff is looking to make moves away from the House, including privately lobbying for the attorney general position that is about to open up in California. He even has Pelosi pulling for him with Gov. Gavin Newsom. The question is, what is Schiff's endgame? Heather and Chris Cadelago dive in: http://politi.co/3qpFdqJ Related Reads: How Joe Neguse and Stacey Plaskett plan to wield their influence after impeachment by NYT's Emily Cochrane: https://nyti.ms/3ual0Yn | Jake Auchincloss swings left in Congress amid lingering progressive skepticism by the Boston Globe's Liz Goodwin and Victoria McGrane: http://bit.ly/3rWBZev | | | | A message from Save The Inventor:   | | | CENSURE CENTRAL: Not all lawmakers are receiving praise from their parties. Look no further than state and local Republican parties seeking to disavow and condemn the decisions of GOP Sens. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and most of the other Senate Republicans who voted to impeach Trump over the weekend. In an emergency vote last night, North Carolina's GOP central committee voted unanimously to censure Burr, who is serving in his third and final Senate term. In statement, Burr responded by calling it a "sad day" and jabbed his party for choosing man over country. More here from our Myah Ward: http://politi.co/3dhVha4 | Read the NC GOP press release on the censure here: http://bit.ly/3u0NljF The Trump boomerang: Meanwhile, some of Burr's old colleagues are ribbing Burr over his vote, with Graham telling Fox News that his impeachment vote has set up Lara Trump, Trump's daughter-in-law, to be the best positioned candidate to take over his seat in the Tar Heel state. Wait a MITCH Minute: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has made it clear, he won't hesitate to get involved in future primary races if a Trump-backed candidate — like, say, Lara — threatens his efforts to retake the majority, telling Burgess in an interview: "My goal is, in every way possible, to have nominees representing the Republican Party who can win in November." TOP-ED: McConnell writes in the WSJ: "Acquittal Vindicated the Constitution, Not Trump" Bill won't bow: Sen. Bill Cassidy, who was censured shortly after the vote took place, is not bowing to the backlash. In an Op-Ed in the Advocate on Sunday, the Louisiana Republican said he has "no illusions" that his impeachment vote would be "a popular decision," but he did so because he took an oath to the Constitution and he says the facts show Trump is "guilty." He said whatttt?: While arguing Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) should be censured for his impeachment vote, a Pennsylvania GOP official said: "We did not send him there to vote his conscience. We did not send him there to 'do the right thing' or whatever." (H/t Reuters' Jan Wolfe) Big tent energy: Meanwhile, Utah's GOP is taking a far different approach, issuing a statement that is supportive of both Sen. Mitt Romney, who voted to convict, and Sen. Mike Lee who voted to acquit: "The differences between our own Utah Republicans showcase a diversity of thought." Related Reads: Trump's acquittal further polarizes factions within the GOP by WaPo's Amy Wang: http://wapo.st/3b2n5fS | GALLUP finds support for third U.S. political party at high point: http://bit.ly/3u4K3Mn WARNOCK IS WARNED: David Perdue has filed paperwork to run again in 2022 -- though he hasn't made a final decision, two advisers tell our James Arkin. While Perdue lost his bid for a second term to now-Sen. Jon Ossoff in January, Perdue is seriously looking at challenging Sen. Raphael Warnock (D), who defeated appointed GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler in a special election and who is up for re-election in 2022. He may not be the only one... Arkin with the story: http://politi.co/2LRSs4i ICYMI over the long weekend: -GOP freshmen of color eyeing Dem-dominated minority caucuses by Mel and Sarah: http://politi.co/2Zl6VJq -Democrats make historic push for aid, equity for Black farmers by The Hill's Marty Johnson: http://bit.ly/3u3wlJl -Top House Republicans are demanding answers from Pelosi related to security decisions her office made ahead of and on Jan. 6. Their release: https://bit.ly/2NsIWFh -As redistricting looms, Democrats jockey to counter GOP edge by the AP's Nick Riccardi: http://bit.ly/3dj22c0 | | | | JOIN TODAY - PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW WITH ASSISTANT HOUSE SPEAKER KATHERINE CLARK: How are House Democrats helping move the Biden administration agenda forward, including a Covid-19 vaccine rollout economic recovery plan? Join Playbook co-author Rachael Bade for a live conversation with Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) on the most pressing legislative priorities and her approach to getting things done. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | |  | TRANSITIONS | | Alivia Roberts is joining the Biden-Harris Administration as Deputy White House Liaison at the U.S. Department of Justice. She previously served as the Deputy Press Secretary for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Jesse Solis, who was Deputy Comms Director for Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee, is the new Media Affairs Manager for the Tax Foundation. JP Freire is the person to reach for any media requests related to Rep. Kevin Brady or Committee Republicans. Morgan Rako is now deputy director at College to Congress after previously serving as press secretary for GOP Rep. Mike Turner (Ohio). | | TODAY IN CONGRESS | | The House meets at 12:30 p.m. in a pro forma session. The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. for a pro forma session. | | AROUND THE HILL | | 9 a.m.: Join Playbook co-author Rachael Bade this Tuesday at 9 a.m. for a live conversation with Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) on the most pressing legislative priorities from Covid to economic recovery and her approach to getting things done. You can sign up here: http://bit.ly/2ZaLJFS | | TRIVIA | | FRIDAY'S WINNER: Erik Ackerson was the first person to correctly guess that the first sitting Speaker of the House to lose their re-election was William Pennington of New Jersey in 1860. Two other Speakers have also lost while in office, which includes Galusha Grow of PA in 1862 and Tom Foley of WA in 1994. TODAY'S QUESTION: Erik: What U.S. Senator cast the deciding vote in the impeachment trial of President Andrew Jackson? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answer to obeavers@politico.com. GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning. | | A message from Save The Inventor: Big Tech is stealing ideas and innovations – we call these abusers Patent Pirates.
These corporations have determined that it's simpler to steal a patent owner's idea, and drag out interminably any legal challenge in court, than it is to simply license the use of an invention. They know they can use their wealth, resources, and weakened patent laws to drag out legal proceedings until small inventors give up or go under.
To get away with this behavior, they have perpetuated the notion that patent litigation is out of control. By spreading this false narrative, they have found support in the courts and in Congress for changes that have weakened patent rights and the ability of inventors to protect their patented innovations.
We need to support the STRONGER Patents Act. This bipartisan bill will restore the protections our inventors, universities, and start-ups need to stop patent pirates in their tracks. Learn more. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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