🤫 GOP's impeachment war

Plus: Skinnier BBB returns | Monday, April 25, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By AHCA/NCAL   Axios Sneak Peek By the Axios Politics team · Apr 25, 2022 Welcome back to Sneak. Let's get right to it! Smart Brevity™ count: 1,080 words ... 4 minutes. Edited by Glen Johnson.     1 big thing: GOP's impeachment war Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios   Enthusiasm for impeaching top Biden officials has spread from the fringes of the House Republican conference to its mainstream — foreshadowing the intense pressure Kevin McCarthy will face from his colleagues if he's Speaker next year, write Axios' Jonathan Swan and Andrew Solender. Why it matters: For the first year of President Biden's term, it was mostly the hard right of the GOP who entertained impeaching the president and his Cabinet secretaries. But those deliberations are now happening among a much larger group — even with virtually no precedent or legal justification. Behind the scenes: The largest body of conservative House members — the Republican Study Committee, which represents more than 150 members — is laying the groundwork to push for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Many committee members already want to impeach him, according to a member of the group. A letter 133 members sent Mayorkas today — led by Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), the committee chairman, and Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas), the Border Security Caucus co-chair — sets the predicate for impeachment even without mentioning the word. Between the lines: The only reason the RSC hasn't already called for impeachment is because it wanted to build consensus and get sign-off on its strategy from party leaders. They've favored a more restrained approach to impeachment, according to a source familiar with the group's discussions. House Minority Leader "Kevin [McCarthy] wants to make the case before we go for the jugular," the source told Axios. The bottom line: Only one Cabinet official has ever been impeached, according to the House historian. Secretary of War William Belknap was impeached by the House, and later acquitted by the Senate, in 1876 for allegedly taking bribes. Neither that history, nor the spiraling precedent of trying to oust Cabinet members for pursuing a rival administration's policies, is proving to be any deterrent to the House GOP. Keep reading.     2. Skinnier BBB returns Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) arrives at the Capitol today after a two-week congressional recess. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images   A bipartisan group of senators met this evening to discuss a potential climate and energy bill that can garner 60 votes in the Senate and revive the barest elements of the president's Build Back Better agenda, senators and aides told Axios' Hans Nichols. Why it matters: By aiming for 60 votes in a 50-50 Senate, some members of the group are trying to re-create the dynamic that led last year to the passage of $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. The group's Democrats are hopeful they can rescue a portion of the $550 billion in climate spending included in the president's BBB proposal. Its Republicans are open to exploring ways to open up more federal land to drill for natural gas drilling, reform the permitting process and invest in nuclear energy. Driving the news: Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) are spearheading the effort. Some 16 senators — eight from each party — were invited to attend tonight's meeting, Axios learned. "Joe [Manchin], not surprisingly, likes to be proactive and he wants to see what's possible," Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) told Axios. "What's acceptable to them has got to be something that can get 10 of us," said Cramer. "And that's going to be pretty tough." "It's an opportunity to talk about a path forward," said Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.). "I just think [President] Kennedy used to say, 'Never negotiate out of fear but never be afraid to negotiate,'" he said. "We are going to have a good conversation and we'll see where it goes." What they're saying: This evening's "meeting was an effort to gauge bipartisan interest in a path forward that addresses our nation's climate and energy security needs head on," said Manchin spokesperson Sam Runyon. Keep reading.     3. Charted: Immigration fears Data: Gallup polls; Chart: Axios Visuals Republicans have grown increasingly concerned about illegal immigration during the past two decades, while Democrats have been less consumed by the issue, according to new Gallup survey data reviewed by Axios' Alexi McCammond. Why it matters: Policy disagreements and competing political pressures in Washington reflect the nation's polarized reality: The country's views on immigration are about as divergent as possible. With the midterm elections around the corner, Republicans are leaning on immigration to attack the Democratic Party. Not only does that put Democrats on the defensive, but it rallies their base. Roughly two-thirds of Republicans tell Gallup they're now concerned "a great deal" about illegal immigration. Fewer than 2-in-10 Democrats feel the same. The backdrop: Biden announced his plan to end the Trump-era Title 42 deportation policy on May 23. It was originally introduced as a measure to deport migrants at the southern border without chance of asylum because of the coronavirus pandemic. Biden's decision has renewed a fierce debate about the best path forward for comprehensive immigration policy now that the COVID-19 pandemic is in a different phase. State of play: The president met with House Democratic members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus this afternoon. They wanted to implore him to end Title 42. "It would be a mistake for Democrats to shy away from dismantling this cruel plank of Trump's anti-immigrant agenda," Rep. Jesus "Chuy" García (D-Ill.) wrote in an op-ed about the issue. Keep reading.     A message from AHCA/NCAL Seniors' access to care is at risk     More than 5 million seniors and individuals with disabilities benefit from long-term care every year. But COVID-19 caused a staffing and economic crisis that is forcing nursing home closures nationwide, limiting seniors' access to care. We must protect long-term care — before it's too late.     4. Worthy of your time President Biden enters the White House through its front door — the North Portico — upon returning from a weekend in Delaware. (See below for reason why.) Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images   🐘 Republican lawmakers took to Twitter to cheer the social media platform's agreement to be bought by billionaire Elon Musk. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) predicted she'll get her personal account back after it was permanently suspended for tweeting COVID-19 misinformation, Andrew also writes in tonight's Sneak roundup. 🔵 Democrats were displeased with the development, with several taking aim at Musk's wealth or the amount he pays in taxes. "Freedom of speech has no cost, but freedom of reach is quite expensive," tweeted Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.). ❌ Former President Trump, who was permanently suspended from Twitter in January 2021, said he won't return to the platform. He has his own struggling social media platform, Truth Social, which aims to compete with Twitter. 📈 Manchin has seen a 16-point increase in his approval rating at home during Biden's presidency, driven by an increase from 35% approval among Republicans in early 2021 to 69% now, according to Morning Consult polling reviewed by Axios' Sarah Mucha. 💨 Cedric Richmond, a senior adviser to the president and former Louisiana congressman, is expected to step down from his position next month, Sarah also notes the New York Times reported. He's one of the first senior White House aides to leave the administration.     5. Pic du jour Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images   President Biden hosted members of the National Hockey League's Tampa Bay Lightning on the South Lawn. They celebrated the team winning the 2020-21 Stanley Cup championship.     A message from AHCA/NCAL Do our nation's seniors deserve support? Yes     The answer may be obvious – but policymakers must step up to preserve seniors' access to care. Little has been done by Washington to invest in long-term care despite a growing elderly population and ongoing staffing shortages. It's time to stand up for seniors.   📬 Thanks for reading tonight! Please tell your family, friends and colleagues they can subscribe to Sneak or any of Axios' other free local and national newsletters through this link. Like this email style and format? It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 200 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: