| |
| |
| |
| Presented By Emergent BioSolutions |
| |
| Axios Sneak Peek |
| By the Axios Politics team ·Feb 09, 2022 |
| Welcome back to Sneak. Smart Brevity™ count: 1,277 words ... 5 minutes. Edited by Glen Johnson. |
| |
| |
| 1 big thing: Schumer-Manchin feud |
 |
|
| Photo illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios. Photos: Julia Nikhinson/Bloomberg, Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images |
| |
| The failed Build Back Better negotiations have left the relationship between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) severely strained. - Both senators — and their staffs — quietly question whether the other side can be trusted, four sources close to the situation told Axios' Jonathan Swan and Hans Nichols.
Why it matters: Democrats are privately concerned the breach will affect any effort to revive President Biden's BBB agenda. A medical absence by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) already deprives Schumer of a reliable party vote. - The discord also has the potential to spill over to upcoming negotiations with the House on a China competitiveness bill, legislation to fund the government and revisions to the 1887 Electoral Count Act.
- Initially, Democrats were more frustrated with Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) for her opposition to raising certain taxes, but key negotiators concluded she had clear red lines — and articulated them cleanly.
- "Joe Manchin and I go back a long way and this is not the first time we have had a strong disagreement," said a statement from Schumer. "Obviously, I let him know my point of view and try to persuade him. We're always able to talk to each other and that has not changed."
- "Chuck and I have worked together for a long time, and he has always known I have a deep commitment to governing in a bipartisan way. I respect the difficult job he has as majority leader in a 50-50 Senate," Manchin told Axios.
- "But my approach to governing and my representation of the people of West Virginia has never changed."
Keep reading. |
    |
| |
| |
| 2. Dems ready to target "legitimate political discourse" |
 |
|
| A member of the crowd that attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images |
| |
| Democrats up and down the chain are determined to exact a political cost after the Republican National Committee passed a resolution describing the Jan. 6 Capitol attack as "legitimate political discourse," Axios' Andrew Solender writes. Why it matters: With historical trends in their favor, many Republicans have lamented that persistent talk about Jan. 6 is complicating their path back to the majority. - "I think we should be focused on the elections and not this nonsense," Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.) said of the resolution last week.
Driving the news: Democratic campaign committees and PACs tell Axios that the phrase "legitimate political discourse" — and its broader implications — will be a major theme of their messaging. - House Majority PAC, the leading House Democratic super PAC, plans to "over the next couple weeks, lean into that" in statements and earned messaging, a source familiar with the group's strategy told Axios.
- "We will ensure that they are held accountable for a position completely at odds with the American people," said House Majority PAC executive director Abby Curran.
- A Democratic National Committee aide said the group will "continue to remind voters throughout the year that the official position of the Republican Party is that attacking the Capitol ... and trying to overturn an election are 'legitimate political discourse.'"
Keep reading. |
| |
| |
| |
| 3. Charted: House traders |
 Data: House Stock Watcher; Table: Thomas Oide/Axios Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) has reported more stock purchases and sales during the past two years than any other member of the U.S. House of Representatives, according to an analysis of data from the House Stock Watcher by Axios' Stef Kight and Thomas Oide. Why it matters: Bipartisan momentum is building around legislation that would ban lawmakers from owning and trading individual stocks. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is now backing some of the efforts after long fighting stock bans, as was reported earlier today. Yes, but: The devil is in the details. - There are several potential bans being proposed, and some measures would be stricter than others — including banning spouses and other immediate relatives of lawmakers from trading stock, as well.
- Pelosi's husband, Paul, has made millions from stock trades.
By the numbers: The House Stock Watcher compiles reports filed by members and presents them in a manner more readable than the original PDFs. - Of the top 10 House members who've made the most trades in the past two years, seven are Democrats.
- Gottheimer mostly traded stock in the tech sector — $75 million out of $81 million invested — and the vast majority of his transactions were in the lowest $1,000-$15,000 range.
- "Prior to taking office, Josh turned over management of his portfolio to a third party and only receives statements of prior transactions," a spokesperson told Axios.
Keep reading. |
| |
| |
| |
| A message from Emergent BioSolutions |
| We Go to protect against public health threats |
| |
 |
| |
| Emergent develops, manufactures and delivers protections against critical health threats — from fighting cholera and smallpox to counteracting opioid overdoses, and manufacturing vaccines and treatments that create a better, more secure world for us all. And that's why We Go. |
| |
| |
| 4. Worthy of your time |
 |
|
| Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) and her dog, Scully, run for a vote today. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images |
| |
| 🔥 Gary Chambers, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate in Louisiana, released a 1-minute ad in which he burned a Confederate flag, declaring, "It is time to burn what remains of the Confederacy down." - Chambers, who's Black, has centered his campaign on racial justice and, running in a deep red state, has relied on provocative imagery — such as smoking a blunt in another one of his ads, Andrew writes in tonight's Sneak roundup.
🏗️ Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) sent a letter to governors pressing them to ignore a Federal Highway Administration memo advising the use of infrastructure funds to fix and maintain highways — rather than increase highway capacity. - Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) also tweeted the legislation "must be implemented as Congress intended" after meeting with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
📈 Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) told The Independent it would be "ridiculous" to restrict lawmakers from buying and selling stocks because it would disincentivize serving in Congress, adding, "They might as well start sending robots up here." - Tuberville is one of the most prolific violators of the STOCK Act in Congress, according to Business Insider, which found that he filed 132 late stock disclosures.
🎥 Actress Angelina Jolie was back on the Hill as Republican and Democratic senators announced a compromise to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act — legislation she's championed. |
| |
| |
| |
| 5. Transparency group wants insight on Luján |
 |
|
| Sen. Ben Ray Luján. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images |
| |
| New Mexico's main transparency group is urging Luján and his staff to release more information about his health following a stroke two weeks ago. Why it matters: Luján is notoriously private, but a lack of health updates is making some New Mexico Democrats nervous about the future of his seat in the 50-50 Senate, Axios' Russell Contreras writes. Driving the news: The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government said in a statement Tuesday that state residents have been "left confused and concerned" about the lack of information from the senator's office. - "While all of us respect the family's wishes for privacy during this stressful time, a balance must be struck between that privacy and the public's right to know."
- "Sen. Luján's absence from the Senate is an issue of great public importance, particularly with a U.S. Supreme Court appointment on the horizon."
The intrigue: Last week, Luján's chief of staff Carlos Sanchez released a statement saying the senator checked himself into a Santa Fe, New Mexico, hospital the week before. Doctors determined he had a stroke in the back of his brain. - He underwent brain surgery to ease the swelling.
- "At this time, he and his family would appreciate their privacy, and ask for your continued prayers and well wishes," Sanchez said.
- His office has given few updates since. His spokeswoman, Katherine Schneider, did not return an email or phone call from Axios today.
Keep reading. Go deeper: Read Axios Latino, a free newsletter authored by Russell and Marina E. Franco of Noticias Telemundo. Sign up to have it delivered each Tuesday and Thursday. |
| |
| |
| |
| 6. Pics du jour |
 |
|
| Photo: Brendan SmialowskiI/AFP via Getty Images |
| |
| It's been long-table week in world politics. - President Biden held a socially distanced meeting today with utility CEOs in the State Dining Room.
- And on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) hosted French President Emmanuel Macron at the Kremlin for a meeting focused on Ukraine.
Photo: Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images |
| |
| |
| |
| A message from Emergent BioSolutions |
| We Go to protect against public health threats |
| |
| |
| |
| Emergent develops, manufactures and delivers protections against critical health threats — from fighting cholera and smallpox to counteracting opioid overdoses, and manufacturing vaccines and treatments that create a better, more secure world for us all. And that's why We Go. |
| |
| 🐫 We've summited our weekly hump! Thanks for reading. A reminder your family, friends and colleagues can subscribe to Sneak or any of Axios' other free local and national newsletters through this link. |
 | Bring the strength of Smart Brevity® to your team — more effective communications, powered by Axios HQ. | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment