| | | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus | | | With Sarah Ferris and Andrew Desiderio. THIRD TIME'S (DEFINITELY NOT) THE CHARM — Senate Democrats expect to be thwarted again this afternoon when the chamber votes on a procedural hurdle for moving forward on House-passed legislation to lift the debt limit. Today's vote is on cloture, but won't provide clarity on a path forward. Republicans will all vote no, but that's not the whole story as the country careens towards a potential default next week. Republicans aren't as united as it previously seemed on just how far they are willing to hold their ground on the debt limit if or when default and the cataclysmic economic repercussions become imminent. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the top Republican on the Budget Committee told Burgess and Caitlin Emma that he doesn't want to string the process out so long that it actually puts the nation's credit at risk. A must-read on the developing GOP dynamics on the debt limit standoff, including if anyone might break ranks as default looms closer. Key quote: "I mean, I'm not going to be a complete asshole about it. But I'm going to make them take some tough votes," Graham said in an interview. Scheduling note: "We're going to stay here until we get this done," Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday. RIP the October recess, perhaps. Some proposals that are percolating in terms of next-steps: Democrats discussed a potential filibuster carveout for the debt ceiling during their Tuesday lunch, even a single-day suspension of the filibuster (but Republicans say reconciliation is in and of itself a filibuster carveout.) Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is standing his ground that the only path he'll accept is the Democrats using reconciliation to move the debt limit with only Democratic votes. McConnell and Schumer could negotiate a time agreement on reconciliation to make the drawn-out process (that would start back in the Budget Committee and require two more vote-a-rama sessions) fit with the Oct. 18 "x-date" timeline for default. But so far, it is still a stalemate. | | | | INTRODUCING CONGRESS MINUTES: Need to follow the action on Capitol Hill blow-by-blow? Check out Minutes, POLITICO's new platform that delivers the latest exclusives, twists and much more in real time. Get it on your desktop or download the POLITICO mobile app for iOS or Android. GET A FIRST LOOK AT CONGRESS MINUTES HERE. | | | | | GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Wednesday, Oct. 6, where your Huddle host has playoff baseball on the brain. (Sorry, not sorry, Yankees fans.) DON'T MISS A MINUTE: It's time to grace your bookmarks tab with Congress Minutes https://www.politico.com/minutes/congress/ 30 MINUTES IN THE MOTORADE — Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) wasn't thrilled when she left the Capitol on Friday without voting on President Joe Biden's infrastructure bill. When Biden trekked to her district for an event on the issue on Tuesday, the Michigan Dem shared her disappointment with the man himself. 'Crack some heads' ... "I said, look, it wasn't my preference to link the two [bills], but I understand you're the president. Now I want you to go back to Washington and crack some heads and get it done," Slotkin told our Sarah Ferris, recalling the conversation. Rural broadband, literally ... Slotkin — whose district narrowly voted for Trump in 2020 — also said the president left with a clear understanding of why the policy mattered in her district on issues from construction jobs to broadband. At one point in the ride, Biden's call dropped. "He said, 'Oh I must have lost service.'" Slotkin recalled. In response, she told him that one out of 10 families had no access to broadband or cell phone service. "That's what people are talking about," she said. GETTING OFF (TWO) TRACK — The Senate-passed infrastructure package got 19 GOP votes in that chamber and was on track, at one point, to getting a significant number of House GOP votes, but as negotiations drag on and crystalize just how dependent the bill is on the Democrats' massive social spending bill…House GOP members are bailing out. "House Republicans project that their aggressive whip operation and Democrats' multiple delays of the infrastructure vote have shaved off dozens of Republican votes that would have materialized for a standalone bill to fund roads, bridges and broadband. Some GOP lawmakers estimated that roughly 50 or more Republicans would have rallied behind the Senate-passed infrastructure bill in August," writes Olivia. Currently, the GOP whip count for the infrastructure measure is only about 15 House Republicans, with GOP sources noting that a few more could also trickle in if the bill appears it is going to pass. Olivia has more on the House GOP posture. | | A message from HCA Healthcare: For the 11th time, HCA Healthcare has been recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing ethical business practices.
This accolade recognizes our dedication to doing the right thing and ensuring our actions reflect our mission: Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life. For our patients, colleagues and communities, you can count on HCA Healthcare to show up. | | | HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT — Flu shots will return to Capitol Hill on Oct. 12 at multiple health units across the complex, according to a memo from the Capitol's Attending Physician. The shots are free to anyone with a valid Congressional ID, including thousands of legislative staffers, Capitol Police, Architect of the Capitol employees, food service workers, journalists and others. Where and when: Flu shots will be available Monday through Friday from 8:30am until 5:00pm as staffing permits at OAP health units, except the Rayburn unit, which remains devoted to the Covid-19 vaccine. Not included in this year's memo is a typical warning from Dr. Brian Monahan about a staggered supply of flu shots. In previous years, the OAP has run out of shots. To check availability and get the flu shot questionnaire, head to the OAP web site. VOTING RIGHTS PUSH, REVISED AND REVISITED — Senate Democrats introduced legislation Tuesday aimed at strengthening the Voting Rights Act, restoring voting protections that were lost in two Supreme Court decisions over the course of the last decade, Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee. Timing: Schumer said it is "my intention in the coming weeks" to hold a vote on this bill, a modified version of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing this afternoon on the revamped bill. Don't get mixed up... This effort is separate from a pared-down voting rights and elections bill introduced last month. That bill, the Freedom To Vote Act, was negotiated between Senate Democratic lawmakers including Schumer and Manchin. That bill would establish some federal guidelines on ballot access, in response to voting restrictions enacted by Republican-led state legislatures around the country. | | | | HAPPENING THURSDAY – POLITICO'S FIRST EVER DEFENSE FORUM : President Joe Biden is making critical shifts in the Pentagon's priorities, including fully withdrawing all U.S. troops from Afghanistan, scaling back U.S. military presence across the Middle East and rethinking the positioning of military forces around the world to focus more on China. Join POLITICO on Oct. 7 for our inaugural defense forum to talk to the decision makers in the White House, Congress, military, and defense industry who are reshaping American power abroad and redefining military readiness for the future of warfare. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | 'EU TOO' — It's not just Washington that's griping about Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) these days. Enter Brussels and the European Union, where top officials and diplomats are now directing their ire toward the Texas Republican over his consistent efforts to slow-walk Biden's State Department and ambassador nominees. They're complaining that they haven't had American counterparts in place for months, and are worried about even more delays once the ambassador nominees for France, the EU and NATO hit the Senate floor in the coming weeks. Cruz is not backing off , plain and simple. He's doing this to pressure the Biden team to impose mandatory sanctions on Nord Stream 2, a Russia-to-Germany pipeline that the U.S. and Europe have long opposed. And Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has joined in, blocking swift confirmations of national-security nominees over his misgivings about the Afghanistan withdrawal. Schumer has tried to plow through the nominations, even keeping the Senate in late at night last week to finish confirming high-level State Department nominees. But it's taking up precious floor time — and the Europeans are noticing. "If you want to talk to some Europeans about this, give the Ukrainians a call. Give the Poles a call. Give our friends in Eastern Europe a call," a defiant Cruz said when asked about the complaints from across the pond. Andrew and POLITICO Europe's David Herszenhorn have more on the transatlantic tensions. | | | | A message from HCA Healthcare:   | | | QUICK LINKS — It's not just Congress: Inside the looming battle for America's statehouses, from Zach Montellaro — Jitters rising, K Street eyes new involvement in debt limit impasse, from Kate Ackley at CQ Roll Call — What Joe Manchin wants, decoded, from Paul Kane at the Washington Post — Red Sox dominate Yankees to win AL Wild Card Game, from the Boston Globe TRANSITIONS John Lee is now Rep. Sean Casten's (D-Ill.) advisor on energy and environment. He was previously a principal at the Policy Resolution Group at Bracewell LLP. Eric Teetsel is now Hawley's chief of staff, replacing Kyle Plotkin, who will remain a political advisor to Hawley but is moving to the private sector. Other moves in Hawley-world: Kelli Ford is now deputy chief of staff for communications, Christopher Weihs is now legislative director, and Philip Letsou is Communications Director. The House Agriculture promotions roundup: Kelcy Schaunaman will serve as associate counsel and legislative assistant, previously serving as Legal Clerk for the committee. Paul Babbitt is the subcommittee staff director for the Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee. He was previously deputy chief of staff in Rep. Tom O'Halleran's (D-Ariz.) office. Chu-Yuan Hwang is deputy chief counsel, promoted from senior counsel. TODAY IN CONGRESS The House is not in session. The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. with one vote at 11:30 a.m. and two votes at 2:15 p.m. AROUND THE HILL 12:30 p.m. Cruz and other Republicans hold a press conference about immigration at the southern border. TRIVIA TUESDAY'S WINNER: Lidia Stiglich correctly answered that Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-Wisc.) dated two Kennedys (Patricia and Eunice), employed another (Bobby), and served in the U.S. Senate with yet another (John F.). More on all that from the Boston Globe Magazine. TODAY'S QUESTION: What year did the Senate break with 150 years of tradition and accept the first female appointments to the Senate page program? 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 HCA Healthcare: This year, HCA Healthcare was recognized for the 11th time as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing ethical business practices.
This accolade recognizes our dedication to doing the right thing and ensuring our actions reflect our mission. A recent example is from early 2020, when we made the decision not to lay off or furlough any colleagues due to the pandemic. HCA Healthcare kept this promise and also introduced a novel pandemic pay program that provided paychecks to colleagues unable to work due to government mandates that halted many elective procedures.
We exist to give people a healthier tomorrow and we're focused on creating more resources, solutions and possibilities for healthcare everywhere. For our patients, colleagues and communities, you can count on us to show up. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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