News: Axios Sneak Peek: Democrats resist Biden's pay-for plan ... Cities turn to K Street

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Axios Sneak Peek: Democrats resist Biden's pay-for plan ... Cities turn to K Street

Presented By Climate Power

Axios Sneak Peek

By Alayna Treene, Hans Nichols and Kadia Goba ·Apr 28, 2021

Welcome back to Sneak. We're coming to you early so you can focus on the president's big speech later. Axios will offer a Thought Bubble afterward.

⚡ Situational awareness: President Biden will hold his first meeting with the Big Four of House and Senate leaders on May 12, Bloomberg's Jennifer Epstein scooped.

Today's newsletter — edited by Glen Johnson — is 697 words, a 2.5-minute read.

1 big thing: Senate Democrats resist Biden's $1.8T pay-for plan

Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii is seen addressing reporters from a podium.

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). Photo: Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images

President Biden will ask Congress to pay for the entirety of his $1.8 trillion American Families Plan tonight, yet some Democratic senators want him to finance it with deficit spending, lawmakers and their aides tell Axios' Alayna Treene.

Why it matters: The "human infrastructure" proposal, which Biden will formally unveil during his joint address to Congress, is already dead on arrival among Republicans — so the Democratic reaction is key.

What they're saying: "I'm not a big pay-for guy," Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) told Axios. "I think some investments are worth deficit financing."

"I think there's plenty of money in this country to pay for smart investments," Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said.
"My view is I think we need to pay for part of it on the infrastructure angle ... but not totally," said Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Keep reading.

👓 Worthy of your time: "White House economic adviser says tax hike on wealthy could apply to 2021," Axios Pro Rata author Dan Primack reports.

2. Cities turn to K Street for earmarks and infrastructure

Illustration of a briefcase with DC and K Street stickers on it.

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

American cities are hiring some big K Street names as Congress passes and readies more legislation with huge implications for Main Street, Axios' Lachlan Markay reports.

Why it matters: With infrastructure legislation potentially authorizing trillions in new spending — and a return of earmarks offering the prospect of targeted federal spending projects — cities battered by the COVID pandemic are looking to secure desperately needed assistance.

Philadelphia's aviation division brought on K Street powerhouse Squire Patton Boggs in February. Among the lobbyists on the account is former Rep. Bill Shuster (D-Pa.), who chaired the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
In January, the city of Anchorage, Alaska, enlisted the firm Brownstein Hyatt, whose ranks include former chiefs of staff to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Hoover, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham, hired former Rep. Bob Livingston (R-La.) via his eponymous firm in January to work on "federal appropriations and authorizations."

Keep reading.

3. Biden's 100-day numbers: Mass shootings

Data: Gun Violence Archive; Map: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios

A deadly epidemic overshadowing Biden's first 100 days has been mass shootings from day to day, coast to coast, affecting both urban and rural communities, Axios' Stef Kight writes.

Why it matters: The United States continues to grapple with whether and how to change its gun laws. Biden is expected to urge Congress to pass anti-gun violence legislation in tonight's address. He's already ordered flags to be flown at half-staff three times in response to shootings in Boulder, Colorado, and Indianapolis as well as in and near Atlanta.

The president also has issued executive actions, directing his administration to implement new rules addressing access to guns.

By the numbers: Last year, there were more than 600 mass shootings, according to Gun Violence Archive — the most since at least 2014.

Since Biden took office on Jan. 20, more than 700 people have been injured or killed in 139 mass shootings.

Of note: Axios Sneak Peek is counting down to Biden's 100th day in office on Friday with data-driven analyses of the administration's accomplishments and challenges each day this week.

Keep reading.

A message from Climate Power

Climate action means jobs. Period

This is (some of) what getting America back to work looks like:

Weatherizing 2 million homes.
Upgrading 4 million buildings to be energy efficient.
Manufacturing 70 million electric vehicles in the U.S. by 2030.

Learn more about how we can build back better with the American Jobs Plan.

4. What key senators want from a Biden-Putin summit

Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photos: Eric Baradat (AFP), Mikhail Klimentyev (TASS) via Getty Images

Senators from both parties also tell Alayna they generally approve the idea of a summit between Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin but oppose any reset of relations between Washington and Moscow.

Why it matters: The Biden-Putin relationship is off to a contentious start following U.S. sanctions over Russia's election interference and cyberattacks, Russia's military buildup in Ukraine — and Biden's characterization of Putin as a "killer."

"It has to happen," said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). "No matter what qualms we have with Putin, he's got a bunch of nuclear weapons. That alone means we have to have some kind of interaction with him."
Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said he didn't see "any downside to this."
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) said it was a "good idea" as long as issues like Ukraine and cyberattacks are on the agenda. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said he trusted Biden to "know when the right time is to sit down with Putin."

It seems increasingly likely Biden will meet with Putin sometime after the G-7 summit, being held in the United Kingdom in June. It will be the president's first overseas trip since taking office.

Keep reading.

5. Pic du jour

Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina is seen walking down a set of stairs after leaving a Republican luncheon in the Russell Building.

Photo: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina departs a Republican policy luncheon in the Russell Building.

A message from Climate Power

Climate action means jobs. Period

This is (some of) what getting America back to work looks like:

Weatherizing 2 million homes.
Upgrading 4 million buildings to be energy efficient.
Manufacturing 70 million electric vehicles in the U.S. by 2030.

Learn more about how we can build back better with the American Jobs Plan.

📅 Join Axios' Hans Nichols and Alayna Treene tomorrow at 12:30pm ET for a discussion on President Biden's first 100 days in office. Guests are Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.). Register here.

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