| | | | | |  | | By Olivia Beavers and Nicholas Wu | Presented by |  | | | FIRST IN HUDDLE -- HOUSE PROGRESSIVES' HAVE A LIST OF DEMANDS: The nearly 100-member Congressional Progressive Caucus issued its top priorities for President Joe Biden's infrastructure sprawling package yesterday, and it shows they want to go BIG. Here are the caucus' top five priorities, per a list of the group's recommendations Nick scooped. In their words: 1) Strengthen the Care Economy; 2) Bold Investments in Affordable Housing; 3) Dramatically Lower Drug Prices & Use Savings to Pay for Public Health Expansion; 4) Bold Investments in Climate Jobs and Impacted Communities; 5) Roadmap for Citizenship and Inclusion for Immigrant Communities. What do these priorities mean in practice? The short answer: Lots of longstanding progressive priorities that they want to see passed, including hundreds of billions for Medicaid home and community-based services, guaranteed housing choice vouchers for many Americans, a drug pricing scheme modeled on last Congress' Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3), a national clean energy standard, permanent paid family, and a pathway to citizenship for essential workers, Temporary Protected Status recipients, and Dreamers. "We agree that it's time for transformative change and we look forward to working with the Biden Administration to expand on their proposal and ensure that the American Jobs Plan goes big to truly meet the needs of the public," Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) said in a statement to Nick. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wants two bills -- one for infrastructure and another for the other economic provisions. But progressives have a different idea and instead want a single bill. Though, that may be a stretch, particularly among moderate Democrats who may have some heartburn about muscling through more big spending bills right after Congress passed the $1.9 trillion in Covid relief package just last month without GOP support. We can debate all we want about whether any of these provisions are "infrastructure," but all signs are indicating Biden's plan will be passed through reconciliation, and the Senate parliamentarian will certainly have her own opinions on what can remain in the bill, let alone what Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) thinks. Just look at what happened to the latest Covid relief bill, when provisions like a minimum wage increase were stripped out. Does a pathway to citizenship have a substantial budgetary impact? That's parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough's call. Some immigration advocates certainly argue there are aspects to immigration reform, like green cards, that have impacts on revenues and are projecting confidence that immigration legislation -- or, at least, parts of Biden's immigration proposal -- could get passed with this procedure. Pelosi last week told Asian American advocates Democrats could "make a case about the budget impacts of immigration in our country, and we are going to try to do that." Let's imagine the parliamentarian rules in favor of their asks -- the progressive caucus's priorities still face slim odds in the 50-50 Senate, so it raises the question: Will progressives flex their muscles on the crafting of this bill with such a slim House majority and a 50-50 Senate? Progressives haven't used their voting power in the way the House Freedom Caucus did under Speakers Boehner and Ryan -- but they still might. | | | | JOIN AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION, SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" NEWSLETTER: Power dynamics are shifting in Washington and across the country, and more people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that all politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. "The Recast" is our twice-weekly newsletter that breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics, policy and power in America. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear from important new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | | BOOK CLUB: Our Congress editor Elana Schor caught up with Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) on her new book, "Every Day is a Gift: A Memoir." The full chat will air on Book TV on C-SPAN 2 this Saturday at 10 p.m. and Sunday at 9 p.m, but your Huddle host got a preview (I have an "in"), including her process of writing the book, which you can watch here: https://bit.ly/3s1vuaa … And the advice Sen. Dick Durbin (D), a fellow Illinois senator, gave her: https://bit.ly/3mAaaar WHEN THE GOING GAETZ TOUGH…(The staff get going). It wouldn't be fair to say it has been a bad week for Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) when it really seems like it is getting worse. Where to start -- Another high level staff departure? Public Venmo transactions? The letter of support from women in the Gaetz off that none of them chose to sign? How about Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) becoming the first member to call on Gaetz to resign (they aren't exactly BFFs)? No, no. That's not all. What really could spell trouble for Gaetz is that his close associate, Joel Greenberg, is likely cooperating with federal prosecutors. Let's back up for a second. The NYT's Nick Fandos and Catie Edmonson report there was another high level departure from the Gaetz office: his legislative director. Devin Murphy resigned last week, following Gaetz' comms director, Luke Ball, who also left in the wake of the public disclosure of a Justice Department probe into the Florida lawmaker. Then, there is also the Daily Beast report from Jose Pagliery and Roger Sollenberger that leads off with this: "In two late-night Venmo transactions in May 2018, Rep. Matt Gaetz sent his friend, the accused sex trafficker Joel Greenberg, $900. The next morning, over the course of eight minutes, Greenberg used the same app to send three young women varying sums of money. In total, the transactions amounted to $900..." Kinzinger tweeted the story and said Gaetz "needs to resign. With friends like these: Greenberg is facing 33 charges in a federal indictment, including sex trafficking crimes that allegedly involve a 17-year-old. The federal probe examining Gaetz's record was born out of the Greenberg DOJ investigation. But, PLOT TWIST: Greenberg is likely cooperating with federal prosecutors, who are probing whether the Florida Republican had a sexual relationship with the underage girl and whether he paid for her travel last year. Greenberg is expected to plead guilty today, per the Times. "I am sure Matt Gaetz is not feeling very comfortable today," said Greenberg's defense attorney, Fritz Scheller, after the hearing yesterday. More here from our Josh Gerstein: https://politi.co/39XDgvv LASTLY: Rep. Matt Gaetz's office blasted the following email yesterday: "The Women of U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz's Office Speak Out in Defense of Rep. Gaetz" … The show of force would be nice and all, but there is one problem: The women in his office are not named in the statement. In the dating world, the ole' Beyonce mantra is: If he likes it, then he better put a ring on it. In Congress, it's: If they really mean it, they will sign their names on it. Related: Gaetz-tied group threatens to sue reporters writing on his Trump relationship by our Gabby Orr and Meridith McGraw: https://politi.co/3fPM1eO | | A message from Energy for Progress: Let's work together on climate solutions. Through innovative partnerships, we've helped reduce CO2 emissions to a generational low. Let's make even more progress together. | | | HAPPY FRIYAY! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill on this April 9, where we have had the wool pulled over our eyes ONE too many times on the Cicada invasion … almost like the yearly rumors that Taylor Swift is visiting the Hill, which sparks a whole frenzy. THURSDAY'S MOST CLICKED: The Hill's story on 10 Democrats joining the NAACP's lawsuit against President Donald Trump after Jan. 6 was the big winner. COMING TO A COMMITTEE NEAR YOU: Congress is back next week and Democrats have a big list of legislative priorities they want to accomplish, from infrastructure and immigration to guns and taxes. Pelosi revealed yesterday that she expects the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to wrap up its work on Biden's sprawling infrastructure package NEXT month. She says the House is aiming to pass the entire package before the August recess. As to whether Dems want to bend on the bill for Republicans, not so much ... Related: Biden's infrastructure tax hike worries some Democrats about impact on wealthy voters, by McClatchy's Alex Roarty and Francesca Chambers: https://bit.ly/3wFUya3 | Biden's infrastructure sales force knows its potholes and bridges, by NYT's Annie Karni and Zolan Kanno-Youngs: https://nyti.ms/31ZELop | Biden to request $715B for the Pentagon, slight increase from last year, by our Connor O'Brien and Andrew: https://politi.co/325EccB NO HATE ACT IS BACK: A bipartisan group of lawmakers in both chambers said they've reintroduced the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act — this time with Republican support in the Senate. The bill would provide grants to states to help improve hate crime reporting -- an issue advocates say is essential amid a surge in hate incidents against Asian Americans amid the pandemic. Last Congress, similar legislation was introduced, but it didn't go anywhere in the upper chamber, where it lacked any GOP support. But this time, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kans.) is co-sponsoring the bill along with its original Senate sponsor, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). More here from NBC: https://nbcnews.to/3mywW2t Related: Biden moves ahead on civil rights without Congress. But his legacy depends on them, by our Laura Barrón-López and Eugene Daniels: https://politi.co/3s3bl3p COMING FOR CUOMO: GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin is the first high-profile Republican to enter the gubernatorial race against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), tweeting yesterday morning: "I'm running for Governor of NY in 2022. To save NY, #CuomosGottaGo!" Despite an impeachment investigation, sexual misconduct allegations from multiple women (the latest: a female aide who worked on Cuomo's staff anonymously detailed her allegations of the governor groping her breast under her blouse while at the Executive Mansion to the Times Union), and misreported Covid-related deaths in nursing homes… Cuomo still plans to run again. IF I DID IT: Meanwhile, some interesting posturing here from the team of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), one of the most high profile women in the House, after Zeldin's announcement: "Congresswoman Stefanik continues to receive encouragement from all corners of the state as she would immediately be the strongest Republican candidate in both a primary and general gubernatorial election…." As NYT's Maggie Haberman points out: "Pressure will be on for her not to leave a seat for an unsettled primary against one and maybe two Trumpy candidates." Also keep in mind, no Republican has won a statewide race in New York in nearly 20 years. More here from our Bill Mahoney: https://politi.co/31VG6MT | | | | 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. | | | | | LOSING HIS APPEAL: Per CNN's Daniella Diaz: "A clerk announced on the House floor during a pro forma session that Rep. Gohmert's appeal of his fine for bypassing the metal detectors when entering the House chamber was denied by the House Ethics Committee." Related: Rep. Louie Gohmert, Texas GOP chairman Allen West are speaking at a QAnon conference in Dallas, by the Houston Chronicle's Abigail Rosenthal: https://bit.ly/39TVQo0 TOOMEY'S TIME?: Biden announced a series of executive actions that he says are designed to address the nation's "epidemic" of gun violence across, while again urging the Senate to take up a cluster of House-passed gun reform bills. But he isn't holding his breath that Congress will get it done. Still, there is one key Republican looking to make a lasting change to the issue of background checks, which has eluded Congress for years: Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.). While Toomey may be retiring in 2022 , he hasn't given up on his efforts to land a guns measure, despite opposing Biden's executive actions on guns." Burgess has the latest: https://politi.co/2OzisTB Related: Republicans criticize Biden's gun safety executive actions as an 'infringement' of Second Amendment rights, by Business Insider's Oma Seddiq: https://bit.ly/3t6iXDo MORE TROUBLE AT THE BORDER: Biden administration: Child arrivals at southern border hit record number in March, by our Sabrina Rodríguez: https://politi.co/2OEgKAo … To which WaPo fact-checker Glenn Kessler tweeted : "Well, I guess the Biden White House line that this is the usual annual migration surge at the border is no longer operative." AN ASIDE: Guns, "border crisis," and taxes -- it is almost like a messaging gift from the political Gods for Republicans, who are looking to win back the House next year. Now they can hit Dems with their favorite talking points. Related: Biden administration spending $60 million per week to shelter unaccompanied minors, WaPo's Nick Miroff: https://wapo.st/3fVvkib | US jobless claims up to 744K as virus still forces layoffs, by the AP's Paul Wiseman: https://bit.ly/3dKPo3T COMING UP: Prisons chief set to face congressional grilling, by our Betsy Woodruff Swan: https://politi.co/3fR2G1D … and more than two dozen members of Congress sent Biden a letter urging the POTUS to reverse a last-minute memo issued by the Trump DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel that they warn could force thousands back to prison. | | | |   | | | CAMPAIGN CENTRAL: -'Run, Ron, Run': Trump prods undecided Johnson to seek reelection, our James Arkin reports: https://politi.co/3t4Rfa6 -The Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) is endorsing Karen Carter Peterson for Congress in Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District's April 24 runoff election, per a release this a.m. -Van Orden launches congressional rematch against Kind, by La Crosse Tribune's Olivia Herken: https://bit.ly/3g7nceD -The House GOP campaign arm has raised $33.7 million in the first quarter (Q1), a whopping haul that comes as Republicans are looking to take back the House next year. The top two GOP leaders, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Whip Steve Scalise contributed $5.3 million and $3.5 million to the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC), respectively. It also ends the quarter with $29.7 million cash on hand -- a 57% increase over the same point last cycle -- and no debt, per a NRCC press release issued yesterday. More here from Fox News' Paul Steinhauser, who first reported on the $$$: https://fxn.ws/320jNFS TRANSITIONS Nada. TODAY IN CONGRESS The House and the Senate are both out. AROUND THE HILL A RECESS SPOTTED: Jamie Fleet, staff director for the House Administration Committee and senior advisor to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Shuwanza Goff, deputy director of White House Legislative Affairs, were seen dining at Osteria Morini in Navy Yard Thursday night. Otherwise, pretty quiet. TRIVIA THURSDAY'S WINNER: Dawson Hobbs was the first person to correctly guess that Emmanuel Celler was the lead sponsor of the Civil Rights Act in the House, which was signed into law on April 8, in 1960. TODAY'S QUESTION: From Dawson: What former cabinet secretary also has multiple credits as a movie producer including movies that starred Robert De Niro and Will Ferrell? Bonus points if you can name the De Niro and Ferrell movies. 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. Follow Olivia on Twitter: @Olivia_Beavers | | A message from Energy for Progress: Innovative Climate Solutions and Powering America
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