| | | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus | | | With Anthony Andragna. JONI AND JOLIE — Celebrity lobbying rarely moves the needle on legislative negotiations, but as actor Angelina Jolie made the round s with top Democratic lawmakers Tuesday advocating for action on the Violence Against Women Act, your Huddle host heard that there's a glimmer of hope on the stalled legislation. (To be clear: this is correlation, not causation.) Jolie met Tuesday with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and others about the future of VAWA, on the 27th anniversary of the landmark legislation being signed into law. The star might be back on Capitol Hill soon, according to Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). The lead GOP negotiator on talks to reauthorize the lapsed protections told your Huddle host that she's working on setting up meetings with Jolie. Ernst said star-powered input "can help or it can hinder" legislative negotiations but in this case, she welcomed more attention on the cause of domestic violence and violence against women and children. Ernst told Huddle that she sees a path forward for VAWA, including on firearms provisions which have held up negotiations for years. "I think we've found a potential solution on that," she told Huddle, without additional details. "We're just running the traps," she said. The law was last reauthorized in 2013, but it lapsed at the end of 2018 after Congress failed to act due to partisan disputes over transgender issues and guns. The lapse has had limited practical effect because Congress continues to fund related programs despite the lack of authorization. | | | | 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. | | | | | PARTY OVERNIGHT [Er, Intra Party Fight] — Democrats' efforts to include sweeping changes to Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act as part of their massive social spending package could be hung up as a drug-pricing fight took shape within the caucus yesterday and delayed action on key sections of legislation until later this morning. The House Energy and Commerce Committee worked until almost 2 a.m. to get through the bulk of health care provisions for the their portion of the reconciliation package, but after infighting among Democrats, the panel punted consideration of prescription drug prices, an expansion of Medicare to include vision, dental and hearing benefits and public health until Wednesday morning. "Expect to be here throughout the day, but we will finish at a reasonable time to respect the Jewish holiday," E&C Chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) told colleagues. Pallone and his senior aides were scrambling Tuesday to shore up support for leadership-backed language that would allow direct government negotiations over the prices of hundreds of drugs, penalize manufacturers that raise prices faster than inflation and apply both policies to private insurance plans as well as Medicare. The squabble was reported Tuesday by Alice Mirianda Ollstein, Heather and Sarah. Moderates balked and a group including Reps. Scott Peters (D-Calif.), Reps. Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.) and Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) threatened to withhold support for the package unless a much narrower Peters proposal is adopted. (Schrader already joined Republicans to vote against all three health sections already considered.) The centrist proposal is a non-starter for progressives. Stay tuned later today to see how this all shakes out. The uncertainty over drug pricing complicates House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) timeline for moving the social spending package through the House this month. | | | | A message from AT&T: Accessible, affordable broadband helps communities reach their American Dream. That's why we're making a $2 billion, 3-year commitment toward helping close the digital divide, so more low-income families have the ability to succeed. Learn more. | | | GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Wednesday, September 15, where it's suddenly recess and fencing again (wait, what day is it?). TUESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Folks couldn't click quick enough on the BuzzFeed story on former staffers who worked for Rep. Pramila Jayapal who said her treatment of staff was inconsistent with her public stances on worker issues. A deep dive from Addy Baird and Lissandra Villa on a maybe-familiar staff situation. DEBT LIMIT LATEST — "Top Democrats will soon have to settle a fiscal stumper: whether to tackle government funding separately from the debt limit, clearing one headache while almost certainly exacerbating another," report Jennifer Scholtes and Caitlin Emma. Don't miss the whole story: https://politi.co/3A8RzIB SHIRTLESS MAN v. MANCH — A shirtless man confronted Democratic swing vote Joe Manchin following votes on Tuesday and urged him not to let the country go broke. (This is not The Onion.) Man: Don't make us go broke, Joe. Manchin: No sir! Man: C'mon Joe. We're counting on you! It's on your shoulders! A more serious Manchin update fresh off the presses from Burgess and Marianne is here: Democrats grapple with faltering filibuster push | | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | SITUATIONAL AWARENESS — The House Sergeant-at-Arms says that the Capitol fencing "will begin as early as Wednesday," so keep an eye out for road closures and razor wire as workers start installing the perimeter. The SAA and Capitol Police are taking special interest in lawmaker travel schedules ahead of the right-wing rally in support of Jan. 6 defendants this weekend. USCP will have a presence this weekend and for next week's fly-in days at Dulles International and Reagan National airports. (Folks love to shout at lawmakers at airports, that we know.) FIRST IN HUDDLE: AD BUY — Invest in America Action is launching a five-figure ad campaign today, urging Democrats to hold their ground on the reconciliation package and not "obstruct the Build Back Better agenda." It focuses on prescription drug costs, jobs, middle class taxes and costs for families. The buy includes digital ads and digital billboards in train stations and bus shelters that will play this: https://bit.ly/398eYxT FIRST IN HUDDLE: HOUSING LETTER — Civil rights and fair housing groups are dissatisfied that the amount of money for housing on track to be included in the reconciliation bill and have penned a letter to Pelosi, Schumer and four key committee chairs calling for $100 billion in housing investments, specifically for first-generation down payment assistance. Read the letter here: https://bit.ly/3Ek2mCg HIGHEST HONORS — The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is set to receive the Ohtli Award this afternoon, the highest honor bestowed by the Government of Mexico to individuals and organizations "that have stood out for their work in favor of the empowerment of the Mexican diaspora and helped to 'open the path' for the new Mexican American and Latino generations." CHC Chair Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) will accept the award on behalf of the caucus at the Mexican Cultural Institute. | | | |   | | | QUICK LINKS — Democrats' House targets vanish as GOP redraws new maps, from Ally Mutnick — Democrats poised to overhaul nation's childcare, with taxpayers picking up the bill, from Sara Wire at the Los Angeles Times — D.C. prepares for far-right protesters during day of festivals, gatherings, from the Washington Post — 40-plus tax increases: A rundown of House Dems' $2 trillion tax plan from Brian Faler TRANSITIONS Kylie Bohmanis now a legislative correspondent for Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). She previously was scheduler for Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.). Madison Hardimon is now a professional policy staffer for the Republican Study Committee. He most recently was legislative director for the late Rep. Ron Wright (R-Texas.) TODAY IN CONGRESS The House is not in session The Senate is not in session. AROUND THE HILL 10 a.m. the Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on the FBI's "dereliction of duty" in the Larry Nassar sexual abuse case, featuring testimony from Olympic gymnasts and abuse survivors Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Maggie Nichols and Aly Raisman along with the Justice Department Inspector General and FBI Director. 2 p.m. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) holds a press conference calling for passage of his legislation to support health care workers' mental health amid Covid-19. TRIVIA TUESDAY'S WINNER: Aria Austin correctly answered that after Abraham Lincoln (607) the next three presidents with the most schools named in their honor are Jefferson (350), Washington (322), and Madison (194). For everyone who guessed Kennedy, he came in at #5 with 144 schools. (Unclear if everyone refers to these as "The Kennedy" or if that's just your Huddle host's extended family.) TODAY'S QUESTION: There are 23 marble relief portraits over the gallery doors of the House Chamber depicting historical figures... which state provided the marble for the work, installed in 1949-1950? 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 AT&T: Brooke Dryden's daughter was diagnosed with learning disabilities at an early age. She requires an individualized education plan and weekly therapy with speech specialists. However, rural Colorado does not have the kind of specialists she needs. With the help of accessible and affordable broadband, Brooke is able to ensure that she receives regular virtual therapy and never falls behind. Brooke's dream is to see her daughter not just survive but thrive in the world. That's why AT&T is dedicated to helping close the digital divide with a $2 billion, 3-year commitment, so more low-income families like Brooke's can achieve their American Dream. Learn more. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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