News: Stop the presses, House and Senate both in session on a Friday

Friday, July 30, 2021

Stop the presses, House and Senate both in session on a Friday

Jul 30, 2021

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By Katherine Tully-McManus

Presented by

With Ally Mutnick and Sarah Ferris.

SENATE FRIDAY — It is the rarest of days: a Friday when the Senate is in session. It's a full house, with the House also in session and voting.

Moderates are gearing up to push the Democrats' $3.5 trillion wish list spending package to the center or abandon it, while Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) are bracing for a fight.

Sanders had an urgent plea at a meeting for his fellow Democratic senators this week: We're with you on this bipartisan bill, so you better be with us on our $3.5 trillion spending package, attendees said.

The move towards work on the huge domestic spending bill is highlighting tensions within the Democratic Party as both chambers try to move President Joe Biden's agenda forward. The reality of the two-track plan to move both the $550 billion traditional infrastructure bill and a Democrats-only reconciliation package is proving complex. And some worry a crash is ahead.

One key question is : How long after getting the bipartisan legislation should the House wait for its Democratic-only companion bill to arrive before the pressure becomes too much to withstand?

Sanders called Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Wednesday to reinforce her position of holding back the bipartisan infrastructure deal until the Democrats' go-it-alone domestic bill clears the Senate, according to a source familiar with the call.

Burgess, Sarah and Heather dig into the complex dynamics as Democrats move forward: https://politi.co/3xibJgR

Seriously, give it a read if you're trying to untangle how progressives, moderates, the Problem Solvers Caucus and key senators fit into the next steps.

Related: Schumer, a leader more liked than feared, faces test of whether he can deliver the 'big and bold' agenda he's promised, from the Washington Post's Mike DeBonis.

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.

SUPPDATE — Nearly seven months after the insurrection, the House and Senate both cleared a long-awaited bill that will help both the Capitol Police and the National Guard avert funding cliffs rooted in the expanded security needs following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

The bill gets the full enrollment ceremony treatment at noon today and then heads to the White House, where President Joe Biden is expected to sign the emergency funding into law.

The $2.1 billion compromise bill fully reimburses the National Guard and Capitol Police for increased staffing needs, provides $1.125 billion in relief for Afghan nationals who assisted the U.S. war effort, and increases the number of visas set aside for the Afghans by 8,000.

"We have to make a strong statement of support for those officers who defended the building and all that it stands for on that terrible day," Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said on the Senate floor.

The doors and windows breached on Jan. 6 and others around the Capitol complex will be upgraded under the measure and new security cameras will be installed around the complex, with $300 million slated for the Architect of the Capitol.

The Senate voted 98-0 and the House passed it 416-11 under an expedited process.

Nick ran from one chamber to the other Thursday, following the story: https://politi.co/3BVDcbY

3 ARRESTS, 3 WEEKS — For the third week in a row, a House Democrat was arrested for protesting restrictive state elections bills being enacted across the country and demanding the Senate vote on the Democrats' sweeping elections overhaul bill.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) was arrested Thursday outside the Hart Senate Office Building along with six other demonstrators.

Jackson Lee was participating in a day of action with the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Black Women's Roundtable, National Council of Negro Women, League of Women Voters and others.

The group chanted "What do we want? Voting rights! When do we want it? Now! If we don't get it, shut it down!" as the Capitol Police set up a perimeter and closed in on the demonstrators.

"I will always stand up for voting rights, democracy, and the American People! #GoodTrouble #VotingRightsAct," her staff tweeted while the arrest was underway.

Last week Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) was arrested outside of Hart and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) was arrested earlier this month, all joining protests of the same restrictive voting measures and the filibuster.

A message from AARP:

Americans are sick of paying the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs — more than three times what people in other countries pay for the same medicine. The President, members of Congress in both parties, and the people agree: we must cut drug prices. By giving Medicare the power to negotiate, we can save hundreds of billions of dollars. Tell Congress: Cut prescription drug prices now.

GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Friday July 30, where both chambers are in session!

THURSDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Were you looking for a shot, chaser combo? Most clicked was Fear and loathing in the House over mask mandate closely followed by the latest recommendations from the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.

ONE OF THOSE 'TIMING TBD' FLY-OUT DAYS — House Dem leaders are scrambling to pick up support for Biden's last-minute request for Congress to extend the eviction moratorium. But this might be one of those issues that even the sweet smell of jet fumes can't resolve.

More than a dozen Dems were opposed to the extension as of Thursday night, as Katy O'Donnell, Sarah and Heather report. Dems spent most of Thursday whipping, but several moderates say they want to extend no longer than Sept. 30, rather than Dec. 31. They argue that the broader issue is that rental assistance hasn't been doled out quickly enough, with too much that could change before December.

Pelosi sent a letter to the Democratic Caucus late last night urging passage of the extension: https://bit.ly/3yh3Z01

Moderates are pessimistic that the bill can actually move on Friday, with some saying there is little point in the vote when the Senate has virtually no chance of winning 10 Republicans on the measure. But House Majority Hoyer said they're still working hard, with millions of families at risk. Asked whether Democrats would consider a shorter extension of the moratorium — such as one through September — Hoyer said: "There's going to be a lot of talk and we'll see. We're talking about it."

"You are just a keen analyst," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said with a chuckle, when asked Thursday night if the Dems whip count was coming up short.

More from Katy: https://politi.co/3ffb8q6

That Friday-flyaway feeling : Two other measures could also come up. Hoyer said Dems are "very close" to agreement on a 10th appropriations bill. The bill, Commerce-Justice-Science, is one of the toughest for Dems to pass with their four-vote margin, with the issue of police funding causing a headache earlier this week after 11th hour complaints from key policing unions.

Hoyer said Democrats could also vote on a resolution on Cuba, which would express "support and sympathy with those seeking democracy and freedom."

MOOD, as Nicholas puts it: https://bit.ly/37opAbj

Be a Policy Pro. POLITICO Pro has a free policy resource center filled with our best practices on building relationships with state and federal representatives, demonstrating ROI, and influencing policy through digital storytelling. Read our free guides today .

TOP DEMS TO THE WHITE HOUSE — Pelosi and Schumer are headed to the White House today to meet with Biden on voting rights, as senators pull together a scaled-back proposal. Nicholas Fandos and Nick Corasaniti from the New York Times first reported the meeting: https://nyti.ms/3le3MqO

MAJORITY MATH — When Rep.-elect Jake Ellzey (R-Texas) is sworn in this morning to the seat of the late Rep. Ron Wright, the House will have 432 members (220 Dems vs 212 Rs).

The majority number is 217 and Dems will have THREE votes to spare.

The House will remain that size until Ohio hosts two special elections on Nov. 2 in OH-15, a safe red seat around Columbus vacated by Steve Stivers, and OH-11, a safe blue seat vacated by HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge. Assuming those two winners are sworn in at the same time, there will be 434 members (likely 221 Dems to 213 Rs).

The majority number is 218. And Dems will still have THREE votes to spare.

Pelosi will get some additional wiggle room after Jan. 11, when Democrats replace the late Alcee Hastings in FL-20. This is a safe blue seat and will bring the House to full capacity at 435 (222 Dems to 213 Rs).

The majority number is 218 and Dems will have FOUR votes to spare.

HONORING CARL LEVIN — Carl Levin, the longest serving senator from Michigan and a strong voice on military and auto industry issues has died. He was 87.

Here is the obituary from Levin's hometown newspaper, The Detroit Free Press: https://bit.ly/3feYGXt

RAYBURN RAGER — Presented without comment: https://bit.ly/2WqxiiD

SHOWERING BABY STEFANIK — Republican lawmakers gathered to shower mom-to-be GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik. Lawmakers were spotted at votes and around the Capitol holding cookies decorated like cute blue ladybugs from the celebration.

SPENDING SPREE — The House passed a $600 billion spending package Thursday, including millions of dollars in bipartisan pet projects after a decade-long ban on earmarks.

Packed with seven of the twelve annual appropriations bills, the package makes up about 40 percent of the proposed spending on operating federal agencies for fiscal 2022. It includes the Labor-HHS-Education bill, Agriculture, Energy-Water, Financial Services, Interior-Environment, Military Construction-VA and Transportation-HUD.

Caitlin Emma has the whole story: https://politi.co/2VllOwe

ONE WAY TO TELL EVERYBODY'S READY FOR RECESS — A pair of House Republicans got into a verbal brawl on the floor on Thursday afternoon that at least one onlooker feared was about to turn into a fist fight, per Sarah and Olivia.

The shouting match took place between Reps. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) and David McKinley (R-W.V.), after the North Carolina Republican said he was added to a bill that he did not support. Things got heated, with McKinley repeatedly referring to Cawthorn as "junior." After Cawthorn left the floor, he waited for McKinley in the speaker's lobby to have another chat with the West Virginia Republican.

It apparently all started when Cawthorn wanted to be on a telehealth bill, but says he was put on a 340b drug pricing bill instead. Cawthron went to McKinley's office to correct the mistake, but couldn't find the GOP lawmaker and instead complained to his staff. Later, McKinley approached Cawthorn on the floor to say, "I heard you were attacking my staff members," according to Cawthorn's account. (McKinley's office did not comment.)

Cawthorn's take: "When you threaten the career politicians' lifestyle and the fact that they're meaningless and they don't actually matter to the American people, they just don't like you. It's OK to live with."

AOC'S PSYCHEDELIC SITUATION — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez saw her amendment promoting research into an array of drugs defeated for the second time this week, but she's elated because math is done differently in Washington, reports The News Station's Matt Laslo.

TRANSITIONS

Sean Farrell takes on the role of chief of staff for Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). He most recently was her legislative director.

TODAY IN CONGRESS

The House meets at 9 a.m. for legislative business.

The Senate convenes at 10:30 a.m.

AROUND THE HILL

8 a.m. House Rules meets to take up an emergency measure on the pandemic eviction moratorium.

9:10 a.m. Pelosi holds a ceremonial swearing-in for Rep-Elect Jake Ellzey.

9:30 a.m. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) holds a press conference with VoteVets.

10 a.m. Pelosi and members of House Democratic leadership hold a press conference outlining the Democrats' legislative agenda for the rest of the year.

10 a.m. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and the Problem Solvers Caucus hold a press conference on support for the bipartisan infrastructure deal.

11 a.m. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) holds a press conference about the southern border.

Noon Pelosi holds a bill enrollment ceremony for the emergency security supplemental spending bill.

TRIVIA

THURSDAY'S WINNER: Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.) was the first to correctly answer that Olympians Frances Tiafoe in tennis, Jerami Grant and Kevin Durant in basketball each hail from Maryland's 4th congressional district, which Brown represents. But that feels a little unfair. The first person to answer correctly who was not the subject of the question was Casey Burgat.

TODAY'S QUESTION: Name all three senators in history who competed in the Olympic games (Sorry, Sen. Mitt Romney, organizing the games doesn't count).

The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answers to ktm@politico.com

GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning.

Follow Katherine on Twitter @ktullymcmanus.

A message from AARP:

It's outrageous that Americans pay more than three times what people in other countries pay for the same medicine. And these unfair prices keep going up. Even during the pandemic and financial crisis, the prices of more than 1,000 drugs were increased. It's time for the President and Congress to cut prescription drug prices.

Currently, Medicare is prohibited by law from using its buying power to negotiate with drug companies to get lower prices for people. This must change. Giving Medicare the power to negotiate will save hundreds of billions of dollars.

And the American people agree. In a recent AARP survey of Americans 50+, a vast majority supported allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices, including 88% of Democrats and 85% of Republicans.

Tell Congress: Act now to lower prescription drug prices. Let Medicare negotiate.