News: Pelosi loses patience with centrists on infrastructure deal

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Pelosi loses patience with centrists on infrastructure deal

Aug 17, 2021

'AMATEUR HOUR' — As the world watches the fallout from Afghanistan, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her leadership team are busy planning for the House's return next week. And it's clear the gloves are starting to come off as leadership loses patience with a band of centrists threatening to derail Pelosi's two-track plan to muscle through President Joe Biden's bipartisan infrastructure bill and a massive social spending package this fall.

"This is no time for amateur hour," Pelosi told her team on a private call Monday night, our Heather and Sarah scooped. "There is no way we can pass those bills unless we do so in the order that we originally planned."

On the call, Pelosi reconfirmed plans to pass a rule next week that would cover the budget resolution, voting rights legislation and the bipartisan infrastructure bill. As Pelosi wrote over the weekend, while Democrats plan to bring the budget resolution and voting rights legislation up for a vote, they are only "advancing" the infrastructure bill through the rule, not voting on passage.

Calling their bluff: As one Democrat put it simply to us, House leadership will put the budget resolution on the floor next week and dare moderates to vote no. "For the first time, America's children have leverage. I will not surrender that leverage," Pelosi told her leadership team Monday night.

It's unclear how this forceful approach will sit with the centrist Democrats. Right now there are 11 Democrats — including the nine who publicly signed the letter led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) — who are signalling to leadership they will vote against the budget resolution unless the House is allowed an immediate, up or down vote on the Senate infrastructure bill.

Flip or flop: Senior Democrats have privately told us they think enough of those members — including some who will be feted at Pelosi's annual Napa fundraiser this weekend — will flip by next week. Remember, Democrats have a three-vote margin on the floor right now.

What's next: House Democrats will have a private caucus call at noon today. "It is essential that we show results," Pelosi told her leadership team Monday night. "Biden's agenda needs to show the results that we know it can produce."

WHAT CAN BE DONE ON AFGHANISTAN — Lawmakers on both sides say the No. 1 priority for the U.S. needs to be evacuating everyone on the government's list expeditiously because Afghanistan seems like it is turning into a horror film: The Taliban are already going door to door looking for people with affiliations to the government and media in Afghanistan.

Some are questioning what the administration plans to do after the evacuations, since the Taliban certainly isn't waiting. Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) said he wants to identify pockets of resistance against the Taliban and provide resources to these factions as they seek to raise arms against what he calls "Al Qaeda 3.0." He said he's been in touch with the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the famous resistance fighter. "His son is now picking up that mantle and trying to create a sanctuary, north of Kabul. Are we going to support it?" Waltz said during an interview with your fill-in Huddle host.

What could we do? If you Huddlers are wondering how you can help, there are various groups trying to crowdsource money for Afghans who are being brought to processing centers and housed in various spots across the U.S. You can help buy clothing, supplies, assist with housing, etc. and help those arriving in your area. Here are some links: A) Charities and organizations helping: here and here B) Help Afghan refugees in Virginia, D.C. and Maryland area: here and here.

One other voice: Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who was the only member of Congress to vote against the AUMF in 2001, issued a statement yesterday saying it is clear "there has never, and will never be, a U.S. military solution in Afghanistan."

ICYMI, our coverage from yesterday: 'Cut the bureaucratic b.s.': Inundated lawmakers call for speeding up Afghanistan evacuations, Heather, Sarah, your Huddle host, and Nick have the story: https://politi.co/3CQVziL | Rick Scott raises removing Biden from office over Afghanistan, Marianne reports: https://politi.co/3CVTt0O

Related: 'He owns it.' McConnell asks Biden for troops as Taliban seize Afghanistan, by McClatchy's David Cantanese: https://bit.ly/3jSTuKg | Ted Cruz, and the ugly attacks on CNN's Clarissa Ward, by Washington Post's Aaron Blake: https://wapo.st/3CScBgn | Lawmakers unite in bipartisan fury over Afghanistan withdrawal, by NYT's Catie Edmondson: https://nyti.ms/3ySzgH7 | DC area Afghans anxiously await updates from family amid Taliban takeover, by NBC Washington: https://bit.ly/37OqFta

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GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Tuesday, August 17, where just like the Bachelor in Paradise premiere, I -- Olivia -- am excited to be back...if only for one day.

MONDAY'S MOST CLICKED: The National Journal's story on how lawmakers are looking to remove roadblocks to Indian health clinic improvements was the big winner.

VOTING RIGHTS BILL INCHES FORWARD — House Democrats are making their latest attempt to advance voting rights legislation. But will it be enough?

Democrats are preparing to vote next week on a revised version of voting rights legislation named for the late Rep. John Lewis that would restore key provisions of the Voting Rights Act struck down by the Supreme Court in 2013. It's unclear if the legislation can actually become law.

They're pressing on anyway. Civil rights groups and the Department of Justice's civil rights chief spoke to a House Judiciary Committee subpanel Monday morning on the need for a new voting rights bill.

"It is now time for Congress to respond, by developing legislation that responds to our current situation, with respect to redistricting and otherwise—a situation in which voting

rights are under pressure to an extent that has not been seen since the Civil Rights era," Clarke, the Justice Department civil rights chief, told lawmakers, according to her prepared testimony.

More from the New Republic's Grace Segers on Monday's hearing: https://bit.ly/3AK42Co

WARS OF WORDS: Pelosi had harsh words for Reps. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) in a virtual forum hosted by The 19th News, saying the two members she rejected for the select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack were "participants in the big lie." She also hinted they could be part of the investigation: "We'll see what the committee finds out about them, but they weren't going to be on the committee."

Banks wasn't pleased , saying in a statement her comments were a politically-motivated investigation and an "abuse of power." Democrats on the panel haven't ruled out seeking testimony from their fellow members of Congress, though subpoenaing them to do so would enter uncharted legal territory.

The Hill's Cristina Marcos has more: https://bit.ly/2VXCwlO

QUICK CLICKS — Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn is at war with Big Tech. He also earned big money from investing in three major tech companies, by Business Insider's Dave Levinthal: https://bit.ly/3g4F09a | New York man pleads guilty to posting threats against Warnock and Congress, by CNN's Tierney Sneed: https://cnn.it/3AOGEnq | Progressives eye shift in strategy after high-profile losses, by The Hill's Hanna Trudo: https://bit.ly/37OkEMT

RIP — Yesterday we learned of other sad news. Former Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-Mich.) who left the GOP over Trump, died on Monday at the age of 64 after a fight with renal cancer. Nick has more: https://politi.co/3jYAWZk

REDISTRICTING CORNER

-Wisconsin Republicans are trying to intervene in Democrats' redistricting case, by The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Patrick Marley: https://bit.ly/3CSJVDP

-How DeSantis' installation of a Republican supermajority on the Florida Supreme Court could affect redistricting, by Slate's Mark Joseph Stern: https://bit.ly/2UmIFaK

TRANSITIONS

Will Baldwin has been promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff for Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) after previously serving as his Comms Director.

Darryn Harris has been named as Rep. Karen Bass's (D-Calif.) next chief of staff, while Jacqueline Hamilton has been named as Bass's next District Director.

Aaron Groce is now senior legislative assistant for Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.). He previously was legislative assistant for Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.).

Hilary Ranieri will be director of government affairs for national security at Planet Labs Federal. She previously was deputy chief of staff for Rep. William Timmons (R-S.C.) and senior adviser for the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.

The Congressional Hispanic Staff Association announced a series of new job moves: Nelly Decker is now comms director for the House Oversight Committee; Marysol Ibarra is now comms director for Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.) and José Fontanez is now Correa's executive assistant; Jose Garcia is now staff assistant to the Senate HELP Committee; Itzel Hernandez is now operations coordinator for the House Democratic Caucus; Tony Hernandez is now deputy press secretary for Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.); Chris Horta is legislative director for Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.); Jonathan Uriarte is hispanic media director for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.); Ruby Robles is deputy press secretary for Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.); and Roberto Vélez Rodríquez is now legislative aide to Senate Budget Committee.

TODAY IN CONGRESS

The House convenes for a pro forma session at 9:30 a.m.

The Senate also convenes for a pro forma session at 9:30 a.m.

AROUND THE HILL

Rain showers and humidity.

TRIVIA

MONDAY'S WINNER: Jennifer Haas was the first person to correctly guess that there were 91 total veterans serving in the House and the Senate at the start of the 117th Congress.

TODAY'S QUESTION: From your Huddle host -- Which president and his wife received the first Siamese cat to arrive in the U.S., which was offered as a gift from the American consul of Bangkok?

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

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Follow Olivia on Twitter @Olivia_Beavers.

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