GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Tuesday, February 22, where yeah… it is going to feel like Monday all day. But 2/22/22 was bound to be a weird one.
HUDDLE TRIVIA LIVE! — Thanks to all who have registered! We can't take any more sign-ups, but if you missed it we will catch you next time. For the early birds who signed up in time, see you tomorrow night. A TEXAS-SIZED PRIMARY REMATCH — Longtime Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) is suddenly without the support of D.C. Democrats when he could use them the most. In one week, Cuellar will face the toughest race of his three-decade political career: A rematch against a formidable progressive challenger, Jessica Cisneros, all while under the shadow of a recent FBI raid. The "King of Laredo" may be standing alone in D.C., but his support runs deep along the Rio Grande in the border city of Laredo, Texas, where Sarah spent the weekend watching Cisneros and her team step up their GOTV efforts, while Cuellar stayed out of the spotlight. How's this for contrast... Two years ago, Cuellar rode his pickup truck during his city's annual Washington's Birthday parade, while Cisneros shouted at him from the sidelines to demand a public debate. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) were even in town. But this weekend? A very different picture. The parade included a dozen-plus local politicians, a whole brigade of Border Patrol on horseback, and even Ronald McDonald. But Cuellar was miles away, back at his campaign headquarters. $$ Lare-dough $$... In a weekend of colorful floats, tacos and Texas sunshine, it was clear that Cisneros' anti-corruption pitch was resonating with voters, many obviously concerned by the FBI probe. But dozens of voters here predicted that the strength of the Cuellar brand — with his name on a local school, a park facility and even on popular restaurants' walls — would probably survive. After all, he's brought the big bucks to Laredo. "He's going to win. He's done a lot for us," predicted 92-year-old Grace Padilla, who said she's known Cuellar, and the rest of his siblings, since he was a kid. More from Sarah in Leredo: After an FBI raid, 'King of Laredo' runs on his laurels A MAN WITH A PLAN — Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) is tasked with taking back the Senate for Republicans and he's plotting out a conservative blueprint for what his party would do with majorities in Congress. And his plans are sure to stir the pot. The National Republican Senatorial Committee chair said some of his top priorities include finishing the wall on the southern border (and naming it after Trump), ending any reference to race or ethnicity on government forms, asserting that "there are two genders," and term limits of 12 years for most federal government workers — including members of Congress. He also wants to require that all legislation expire after 5 years, lean into the firestorm about how American history is taught and ensure school kids stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. "As a general rule, you know, probably this year's election is going to be a lot about the Biden agenda. But I do believe we're going to win," Scott said. "We ought to have a plan and what we're trying to get done when we get the majority." Read more from Burgess' interview with Scott. LEAHY'S FAREWELL ADDRESS— It's not what you think. When the Senate returns on Monday Feb. 28, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) will deliver Washington's farewell address, a storied Senate tradition. The address is 7,641 words long, and delivery takes around 45 minutes every year. Leahy will add his name (and whatever note he chooses) to the black, leather-bound book, maintained by the secretary of Senate, that is signed by each senator who reads the address. HAGEDORN HAS DIED — Rep. Rep. Jim Hagedorn (R-Minn.) died last Friday at 59 following a long bout with kidney cancer. Read The Star Tribune's obituary for the second-generation lawmaker.
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