| | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus | | | With help from Sarah Ferris and Andrew Desiderio Can't imagine that Vladimir Putin would make a good pen pal. But the Senate is fixing to find out. After failure to achieve bipartisan sanctions against Russia, they've settled on instead what amounts to a strongly worded open letter — one that they hope influences the autocrat to avoid war. PUTIN, PLEASE — A bipartisan gang in the Senate has promised for weeks to produce robust legislation aimed at deterring a Russian invasion of Ukraine, and one that could sail through the Senate. They've effectively abandoned those plans, along with a plan-B effort to put forward a non-binding "Sense of the Senate" resolution on Russian aggression. But alas, recess beckons. In the absence of all of that, here's what the Senate has to show for it: a sternly worded statement from leadership. As the Biden administration warns of a possibly imminent invasion, this is what the Senate has produced. Where it fell apart: Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) released his own sanctions bill, with the support of a majority of Republicans, and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) saw it as a slap in the face. "It's a shame that Senate Republicans have decided to choose partisan posturing instead of working to reach consensus on a comprehensive bipartisan proposal," Menendez said in part. Risch, the Foreign Relations Committee's ranking member, insisted that his plan would meet the bipartisan demand for action, including immediate sanctions that negotiators had already agreed on. Of course, many of the very real disagreements between the two sides have been known for a while now and were very difficult to overcome. Andrew has more on what was a fitting and not entirely unsurprising coda to the Senate's sanctions saga. VIBE CHECK: COUNTDOWN — Friday's spending deadline is getting closer every minute. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) filed cloture on the stopgap spending bill Tuesday night but Democrats and Republicans would need to strike a deal in order to speed up the bill and get a final vote by the deadline. Republicans are angling to get votes on their amendments in exchange for a timing agreement. Marsha, Marsha, Marsha: Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) lifted her hold on the CR on Tuesday evening. "Senator Blackburn lifted her hold after she received an answer in writing from the HHS Secretary committing that no taxpayer funding will be used to fund crack pipes," a spokesperson for the GOP senator said. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), whose colleagues have thrown up roadblocks to quick consideration of the stopgap spending measure, is projecting confidence that government funding will be sorted before the deadline. "As is often the case, we'll process a few amendments before doing the short term CR. I think it'll all be worked out. There's no danger of a government shutdown," he told reporters Tuesday. | | | | 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. | | | | |
GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Wednesday, February 16, where we're not placing all our eggs in the statement-from-leadership basket.
NEXT WEEK: HUDDLE TRIVIA LIVE! — On Feb. 23 at 8 p.m., the POLITICO Congress team behind Huddle is whipping up our first-ever virtual trivia night. Prizes for the winners and for best team name (along with bragging rights) are on the table. RSVP solo or with a team to Huddle (please include team name in the message). Registration is free. We'll send sign-up instructions. CULTURE SHOCK — House Dem campaign officials have been offering a warning to members in recent days: Don't just ignore the GOP attack ads. New polling from the DCCC shows that Republicans already have a 4-point advantage in battleground districts this fall. But if Dems don't answer GOP's attacks on culture issues like policing, critical race theory or immigration, that advantage soars to *14* points, according to slides obtained by POLITICO. What's more: The GOP hits are most effective with center-left voters, independents and Hispanic voters. It's not just the polling. The DCCC has also presented focus group findings that said swing voters found Democrats "preachy" and "judgemental," particularly when it comes to the thorniest issues. Instead, Dem operatives said candidates needed to show they "fully understand and care about stressors in people's lives" and focus on the issues "without stoking divisive cultural debates." More from Sarah and Ally about their scoop on the internal data and strategy. DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH — Members of the bipartisan, 16-senator gang looking to reform the Electoral Count Act can't agree on how fast they could move on a potential deal. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) wants to see a "framework" this week. But Republicans have a longer timeline in mind. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.): "Take a look at the length of time for the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Everybody thinks it's going to get done in a week or two. But that took months. We're still weeks into a process of discovery and scoping. So, it wouldn't surprise me if we're looking at a May, June timeframe before we have a consensus work product." "Republicans are already grousing that Democrats are trying to shoehorn in changes not directly related to the Electoral Count Act. A GOP aide familiar with the talks … said that dynamic could prevent the bill from getting the 60 votes it needs to advance," reports Burgess: A bipartisan deal to stop Trumpian election subversion? Not so fast. | | | | A message from THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK: Medicaid expansion means earlier cancer diagnoses and improved survival rates. But more than 2 million people — the majority of whom are people of color — are missing out on the lifesaving care they need because of hurdles to affordable, comprehensive health coverage in states that haven't expanded Medicaid. It's time for all Americans to have equitable access to care. Congress, close the coverage gap to remove hurdles to cancer care. | | |
ELECTION SECURITY FUNDS — Senate Rules and Administration Committee Chair Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) penned a letter signed by 32 other senators urging President Joe Biden to include $5 billion for election security grants in the upcoming fiscal year 2023 budget. "While past funding has been critical, we must continue to help both state and local election officials modernize their voting equipment, improve the administration of elections, and strengthen cybersecurity for election systems," they wrote. Read the full letter.
IT'S KAMALA CALLING — After the Judiciary Committee helped propel her rise in national politics, Vice President Kamala Harris is now on the other side of a Supreme Court nomination fight. And she's dialing up her former colleagues to get their input, including Republicans, report Marianne and Christopher Cadelago. "She's a partner in this process and I think she's going to play a very important role..I just know when it comes to this Supreme Court pick she is in the mix everywhere I look," said Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) In interviews Tuesday, at least eight female senators said they'd spoken with Harris over the last few weeks about the SCOTUS vacancy. On Democratic side, Harris has spoken at least to Sens. Tina Smith (Minn), Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), Tammy Duckworth (Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) and Patty Murray (Wash.). "She asked me what my priorities were, and any other feedback I had. She's very much in listening mode," said Smith. Republican Sens. Deb Fischer (Neb.), Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.) and Joni Ernst (Iowa) have also gotten the call from Harris. | | | | DON'T MISS 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. CHECK OUT CONGRESS MINUTES HERE. | | | | |
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Hawley says… "It is not a pro-riot mug," Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) told HuffPost Tuesday. Honestly not something we've had to clarify about any of our coffee mugs here at Huddle.
Bird bath(room)... A mess on former Rep. Joe Cunningham's (D-S.C.) car brought back some memories. QUICK LINKS Democratic donors cross party lines to support anti-Trump Republicans, from The Financial Times GOP decries cost of Pentagon anti-extremism and diversity training , from John M. Donnelly at CQ Roll Call The hit on a Miami TSA officer was likely bankrolled by a PPP loan, new records show, from The Miami Herald TRANSITIONS Chelsea Daley is joining the Joint Economic Committee majority as digital director. She most recently was director of digital strategy at the Department of Homeland Security. MacKensie Kvalvik will be comms director for Rep. Deborah Ross (D-N.C.). She currently is comms director for Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.). Pat Pelletier is now government and regulatory affairs executive at IBM. He previously was chief of staff for Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-Mich.), and is a John Kline alum. Ashley Mushnick is now special assistant and speechwriter at the Department of Education. She most recently was speechwriter for Menendez. | | | | A message from THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK:   | | |
TODAY IN CONGRESS
The House is out. The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. AROUND THE HILL 11 a.m. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, along with other Republicans, holds a news conference on inflation (S-325). 11 a.m. The House Budget Committee holds a hearing on abolishing the debt limit. Noon. House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress virtual hearing on modernizing district office operations. | | |
TUESDAY'S WINNER: Lidia Stiglich correctly answered that nine states have chosen to honor a woman with their state statutes in the U.S. Capitol. They are: Mother Joseph (Washington, CVC), Esther Hobart Morris (Wyoming, Hall of Columns), Jeannette Rankin (Montana, CVC), Dr. Florence Sabin (Colorado, Hall of Columns), Sakakawea (North Dakota, CVC), Maria Sanford (Minnesota, CVC), Frances E. Willard (Illinois, Statuary Hall), Sarah Winnemucca (Nevada, CVC) and Helen Keller (Alabama, CVC).
TODAY'S QUESTION: What senator holds the record for the longest chairship of a standing committee? 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 THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK: Where you live shouldn't determine if you live. Increased access to health coverage through Medicaid expansion has resulted in earlier stage cancer diagnosis, improved access to timely treatment and survival rates, and reduced health disparities compared to those living with cancer in states that have refused to expand.
It's time for all Americans to have equitable access to care. Congress, close the Medicaid coverage gap to remove hurdles to cancer care for more than 2 million people. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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