| | | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus | | | With Marianne LeVine, Nick Wu, James Arkin, Andrew Desiderio and Caitlin Emma. TOP LINE TUESDAY (NIGHT): That's right, we have a deal. Senate Budget Democrats emerged from a two-hour meeting on Tuesday night with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and White House officials to announce their $3.5 trillion budget resolution. That framework, if approved by all Senate Dems, will trigger the so-called reconciliation process to enact a swath of President Joe Biden's priorities without GOP support. The still-forthcoming budget resolution — combined with a tentative bipartisan infrastructure deal — will total a whopping $4.1 trillion in investments. Biden is expected to attend lunch with Senate Democrats today to talk through the proposals. "We know we have a long road to go," Schumer said on Tuesday night. "If we pass this, this is the most profound change to help American families in generations." Caitlin Emma and Jennifer Scholtes have full details here. Now, they have to sell all 50 Democrats on the deal. The goal on Tuesday night was to get Senate Budget Democrats on the same page before pitching the plan to the entire caucus, said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a member of the committee. Progressives like Budget Chair Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) had pushed for a top line as high as $6 trillion, while centrists have endorsed a smaller figure that doesn't rely on deficit financing. Despite getting trillions less than his original ask, Sanders still got a big win: Democrats are on track to expand Medicare to cover vision, dental and hearing for seniors. Meanwhile, moderates like Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) said earlier Tuesday that they'll need time to sort through the plan compiled by the Budget Committee — and Manchin doesn't want the final legislation to add to the federal debt. "We need to pay for it," Manchin said earlier Tuesday. "I'd like to pay for all of it. I don't think we need more debt." Schumer said he hopes to adopt the budget resolution on the floor in the next few weeks, which would tee up the reconciliation process. | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO WOMEN RULE : The Women Rule newsletter explores how women, in Washington and beyond, shape the world, and how the news — from the pandemic to the latest laws coming out of statehouses — impacts women. With expert policy analysis, incisive interviews and revelatory recommendations on what to read and whom to watch, this is a must-read for executives, professionals and rising leaders to understand how what happens today affects the future for women and girls. Subscribe to the Women Rule newsletter today. | | | | | DEMOCRATS DIVERSITY: Approximately 38 percent of Democratic Senate staffers identify as non-white, up 3.5 percent from 2020, according to the latest data from the Senate's Democratic Caucus Diversity Initiative released last night. "We've made some significant progress this past year, but much work remains to increase congressional staff diversity and ensure that every voice is heard and adequately represented in the halls of Congress," Schumer said in a statement to Politico. Manchin has the least racially diverse staff in the caucus, with just 7 percent of his aides identifying as non-Caucasian, down from 11 percent last year. Senate Energy and Natural Resources, the committee Manchin leads, has a middling 22 percent non-white staff. This marks the fifth year the Democratic Caucus has released demographic statistics about each Democratic member's office and committee staff. Republicans do not release data on their staff demographics. Leaders of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association praised the "continued progress for diverse staff in Democratic Senate offices in a year of transition," but said the data "underscores that there is a great deal of work still needed to recruit and retain AAPI staff at all levels, especially in developing the the pipeline for senior positions." A Congressional Hispanic Staff Association board member told Huddle in a late-night interview that while the caucus initiative is making strides, there's more to be done to build pathways for Hispanic and Latino staff to get hired and thrive. "As staff discuss how a policy is going to be implemented, people bring their personal lives, their identities to work, which I think is the value of having a diverse staff," the board members said. Sens. Masie Hirono of Hawaii and Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico have the most racially and ethnically diverse staff, with Hirono reporting 73 percent of her staff as non-white — 54 percent identify as Asian American Pacific Islander and 22 percent as Native American, Hawaiian or Alaskan. Of Lujan's staff, 56 percent identify as Latino, five percent as Black and another five percent as Native American, Hawaiian or Alaskan. Fifty-four percent of Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock's (D) staff identify as Black or African American, of 70 percent who said they are non-Caucasian. Washington Sen. Patty Murray (D) once again reported the highest percentage of LGBT staff among Democratic personal offices, with 27 percent of her team identifying as LGBT. Staffers, get in touch: What is your office or committee doing (or not doing) on this issue? | | A message from AARP: Millions of family caregivers are struggling to provide care for their older parents and spouses. Many are sacrificing their income, tapping into life savings, and taking on debt to keep their loved ones safe—at home and out of nursing homes that could put their lives at risk. Family caregivers are reaching their breaking point. Congress must pass the Credit for Caring Act now to give caregivers some of the relief they desperately need. Learn more. | | | GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Wednesday, July 14. MONDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Okay, I hadn't learned how to do this yet. But now I know. Most Clicked will return tomorrow. THAT OTHER MEETING: Meanwhile, the 20-plus bipartisan group of negotiators huddled Tuesday evening to hash out more detail on the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure framework. While staff worked over the recess on crafting legislative text, the meeting marked the first time members all sat down together to discuss the next steps as well as outstanding issues. The members left the meeting with a new goal: finalize all member-level decisions by Thursday, when the Senate leaves for the weekend. "We resolved about half of the outstanding issues that we're talking through but there are others. It's not surprising, this is a large complex bill," said Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), the lead GOP negotiator. He added that the pay-fors have not been finalized but that some have changed from a few weeks ago. Staff were spotted clutching cannolis and wrapped sandwiches, the spoils of an inconclusive meeting. Your Huddle host watched longingly as aides carried multiple unopened bottles of wine out of the room along with a book box stacked with untouched Stella Artois. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) described the goal of Thursday's meeting as "let's work through all of the knotty issues that we have and get those resolved so we can get things sent off." Members spoke positively about their progress and said they were optimistic that the entire group of 20 would stick with the bipartisan framework. LIVE FREE OR DIE: New Hampshire Democrat Maggie Hassan is a key player in the 21-senator group working to finish the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which, if delivered, could put her in a strong position to defend her seat from a possible challenge from a popular GOP governor. Burgess Everett explored Hassan's approach to bipartisanship and what that could mean for the vulnerable Granite Stater and quiet policy workhorse. "It is important to people that we work together. I also think it is important to get results. I do not think those two things are mutually exclusive," Hassan told Burgess. "What I am hearing about from people is: 'get the infrastructure bill done.'" Hassan and other vulnerable Senate Democrats are depending on the bipartisan infrastructure deal to come together, allowing them to campaign as collaborative dealmakers delivering wins for their home states. Whether or not New Hampshire GOP Gov. Chris Sununu mounts a challenge, Hassan is in prime position to define herself in the coming weeks with the exact sort of bipartisan breakthrough she's been talking about for nearly six years. More from Burgess here. SCHUMER'S WEED BILL: Schumer released sweeping draft legislation to legalize marijuana, launching a difficult debate in the Senate that also aligns with his campaign promises. The measure floated by the New York Democrat — along with Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) — proposes removing federal penalties on cannabis, expunging nonviolent federal cannabis-related criminal records and letting states decide if or how to legalize the drug. More on the cannabis proposal here from Natalie Fertig. | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TODAY: Power is shifting in Washington and in communities across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. The Recast is a twice-weekly newsletter that explores the changing power dynamics in Washington and breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics and policy in America. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear critical new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | | EXILED AND EXALTED: Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), two of the GOP's chief critics of former President Donald Trump, are filling their campaign war chests for what comes next. Their outspoken criticism of Trump has alienated them from their party in D.C., but the hefty dough their rebellion is raking in could set them each up for new aspirations beyond the House or Congress. Olivia and Ally Mutnick dig into opportunities ahead for the exiled duo. DEJA VU — Another month, another soft goal to get to a police reform deal. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), said Monday, "I don't think we can do this after this month if we're not finished." Negotiators have already blown past President Joe Biden's late-May goal for a deal and similarly punted Scott's "June or bust" goal for a deal. But Scott was optimistic. "So far so good for the parts that we agree on," he said, acknowledging they still had not resolved the thorny issue of qualified immunity, a legal doctrine shielding most police officers from lawsuits. He hoped they could pass something by the end of the month, though he said it could be hard to pull together bill text by then. "Anyone who has been around for any amount of time realizes that you don't do anything in this body in two or three weeks, especially on something that can be transformative," he said. Booker, who had declined to commit to previous deadlines, also didn't back Scott's end-of-month goal, telling ABC, "I think Tim and I have been working hard with a lot of hope that we can get this done as quickly as possible." CORNYN'S CASH: Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is raising cash to aid Republican efforts to win back the Senate. The Texas senator formed a joint fundraising committee called Cornyn Victory Committee earlier this year to help fill the coffers of GOP incumbents and eventual Republican nominees. The committee has raised more than $2 million as of the end of the second quarter, according to a source familiar with the effort. It transferred between $75,000 and $100,000 to all incumbent Republicans up this cycle, and has earmarked between $20,000 and $25,000 for eventual GOP nominees in five states with retiring Republicans — Alabama, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania — and five states with Democratic incumbents — Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, New Hampshire and Nevada. The committee also transferred more than $250,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, per the source familiar with the effort. STRANGE BEDFELLOWS — In recent years, more Republicans have joined forces with Democrats to rein in presidential war powers. But there's still a strong contingent of GOP lawmakers who believe that the president — any president — should have broad authority to conduct military operations against America's enemies. And today, they're in the somewhat awkward position of fighting to maintain a Democratic president's authority to wage military campaigns in Iraq without congressional approval. In this case, Joe Biden is supporting Congress' efforts to repeal outdated war authorizations for Iraq. But with Iran-backed militia groups continuing to operate there — and attacking American troops on a near-daily basis — Republicans are pushing back. These GOP argue that Congress shouldn't move to deprive Biden of legal authorities to strike within Iraq while Iranian proxies are trying to harm Americans there, and that it would send the wrong signal to terror groups about the U.S.'s intentions. But Democrats and the pro-repeal Republicans say it would be a stretch for the president to claim an AUMF to strike Iranian proxies in Iraq, noting that Congress hasn't specifically authorized those actions and that Biden has already asserted his Article II self-defense powers to retaliate against the militias. Here's how Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who's leading the push to repeal, put it: "The president's constitutional Article II authorities appropriately give him the power to defend our troops and our core national interests. He's proven that by doing that — without any exception being taken by my colleagues whatsoever." Andrew has more on the emerging dynamic here. VACCINES ARE GOOD 4 U: Singer Olivia Rodgrigo heads to the White House today to promote COVID-19 vaccination among young people. (If you don't know her work or what's hip, no need to tell on yourself.) MORE POP STAR NEWS: There's also a #FREEBRITNEY rally at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial at 2 p.m. | | | |   | | | TODAY IN CONGRESS The House is out, but committees are meeting. The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. AROUND THE HILL Wednesday, July 14 | 10 a.m. Senate Appropriations Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee hearing to examine Biden's proposed fiscal 2022 budget for the Department of Labor. Sec. of Labor Marty Walsh testifies. 138 Dirksen. Wednesday, July 14 | 11 a.m. House Transportation and Infrastructure Water Subcommittee hearing on Biden's fiscal 2022 budget request. 2167 Rayburn. TRIVIA MONDAY'S WINNER: Bruce Mehlman was the first person to correctly answer who was the first First Lady with a college degree? Lucy Webb Hayes was the wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes and an 1850 graduate of Cincinnati Wesleyan Female College. TODAY'S QUESTION: During what two-year period was a massive skylight removed from the Senate chamber? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answers to ktullymcmanus@politico.com. GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning. Follow Katherine on Twitter @ktullymcmanus. | | A message from AARP: Family Caregivers Need Help Now
Caring for loved ones shouldn't lead to bankruptcy and financial ruin. But that is exactly what is happening for too many family caregivers. The financial strain of caregiving is immense, and it is unacceptable that more isn't being done to provide support for them. That's why AARP is fighting for America's 48 million family caregivers and their loved ones who depend on their care to survive. Family caregivers nationwide spend over one-quarter of their income, on average, providing this essential care. Congress must pass the Credit for Caring Act to help alleviate some of the financial strain of caregiving.
Tell Congress to act now to help protect family caregivers from financial devastation. Tell Congress to pass the Credit for Caring Act. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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