Axios Sneak Peek: GOP pivot — Big business to small dollars ... Senate Democrats settling on corporate tax rate

Plus: Exclusive: White House pushing vaccine eligibility with media blitz | Sunday, April 18, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Feeding America   Axios Sneak Peek By Alayna Treene, Hans Nichols and Kadia Goba ·Apr 18, 2021 Welcome back to Sneak. After a busy run of foreign policy, the White House turns this week to the second half of infrastructure and the president's climate summit. Today's newsletter — edited by Glen Johnson — is 614 words, a 2.5-minute read.     1 big thing: GOP pivot — Big business to small dollars Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios   Republican leaders turned to the grassroots and raked in sizable donations after corporations cut them off post-Jan. 6, Axios' Lachlan Markay reports. Why it matters: If those companies hoped to push the GOP toward the center, they may have done just the opposite by turning Republican lawmakers toward their most committed — and ideologically driven —supporters. By the numbers: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's campaign committee didn't get a single corporate PAC donation during the first quarter of the year, new reports show. Compare that to Q1 2019, when the McConnell Senate Committee received $625,000 from 157 corporate PACs and trade associations. Yet McConnell's total haul this year was about $100,000 larger than the same period last cycle. The Kentuckian brought in more than $1.9 million — all from individual donors. That included more than $700,000 from "unitemized" donations, or those under $200, compared to less than $200,000 in that classification during Q1 2019. The same pattern is evident for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. His campaign received nearly $2.2 million in contributions from January through March, compared with under $1.7 million during the first quarter of 2019. Like McConnell, McCarthy did it with next to no corporate support. The Californian got more than $300,000 from 66 companies and trade groups in Q1 2019. This year, just two PACs — the National Federation of Independent Businesses and a trade group representing California beet growers — gave him a total of $2,800. Small-dollar donations to McCarthy also spiked: he received nearly $1.4 million in unitemized donations, compared with under $190,000 during Q1 2019. Keep reading.     2. Senate Democrats settling on 25% corporate tax rate Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images   The universe of Democratic senators concerned about raising the corporate tax rate to 28% is broader than Joe Manchin, and the rate will likely land at 25%, parties close to the discussion tell Axios' Hans Nichols. Why it matters: While increasing the rate from 21% to 25% would raise about $600 billion over 15 years, it would leave President Biden well short of paying for his proposed $2.25 trillion, eight-year infrastructure package. Driving the news: A collection of 10 senators from both parties — the so-called Group of 20 — is working to find a compromise on what to include in an initial infrastructure package and how to pay for it. While Manchin (D-W.Va.) has made clear his preference for a 25% rate, he's far from alone. Democrats who've privately hinted they may be uncomfortable with going to 28% include Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner of Virginia, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Jon Tester of Montana. Keep reading.     3. By the numbers: Coverage of southern border subsides Data: Zignal, provided by Bully Pulpit; Chart: Axios Visuals The border problem still rages, but major news networks have moved on, according to Zignal data provided to Axios' Stef Kight by Bully Pulpit. Why it matters: While the problem may not be on your TV, there was a record number of crossings from Mexico into the United States last month. And the number of unaccompanied minors in U.S. custody continues to climb.     A message from Feeding America Rural counties, facing increased rates of hunger, need our help     Rural counties make up 63% of the U.S. but account for 87% of counties with the highest rates of food insecurity. Feeding America knows that the communities that grow much of our food are also struggling to put food on the table. Working with us, legislators can make a difference for rural America.     4. Exclusive: White House promoting vaccine eligibility with media blitz President Biden after announcing the new deadline for states to set vaccine eligibility. Photo: Oliver Contreras/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images   The White House is launching a targeted media blitz Monday to promote Biden's new deadline for states to make all U.S. residents 16 and older eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, an administration official tells Axios' Sarah Mucha. Why it matters: Roughly 50% of American adults have received their first vaccine dose, but vaccine hesitancy among the remaining population risks the country achieving herd immunity. The problem is a special concern after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration paused delivery of the Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine amid concerns about blood clots. The White House is now narrowing in on specific constituencies who may experience higher rates of hesitancy, including Latino and Black communities as well as conservatives. To reach those groups, officials will do interviews with Telemundo, All Ag News and radio host Rickey Smiley, who has a wide following in the Black community. It's also putting up members of the administration, including Anthony Fauci, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and assistant HHS secretary Rachel Levine, among others, for those targeted local and radio interviews. Keep reading.     5. Pic du jour Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images   President Biden, as he boarded Marine One on Friday to fly to Delaware.     A message from Feeding America Rural counties, facing increased rates of hunger, need our help     Rural counties make up 63% of the U.S. but account for 87% of counties with the highest rates of food insecurity. Feeding America knows that the communities that grow much of our food are also struggling to put food on the table. Working with us, legislators can make a difference for rural America.   🎉 Thanks for reading Sneak. This newsletter is written in Smart Brevity®. Learn how your team can communicate in the same smart, clear style with Axios HQ.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. 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