🤫 Scoop - Sinema's energy ask

Plus: Housing price spike | Thursday, May 19, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By American Bankers Association   Axios Sneak Peek By the Axios Politics team · May 19, 2022 Welcome back to Sneak. Joe Biden is en route to Japan and South Korea on his first trip to Asia as president. 🚨Breaking: "Pentagon spokesman [John] Kirby moving to White House in senior communications role," The Washington Post's Tyler Pager scooped tonight. Smart Brevity™ count: 637 words ... 2.5 minutes. Edited by Glen Johnson.     1 big thing: Scoop — Sinema's energy ask Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is seen arriving at the Capitol today. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images   Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) wants the Senate's bipartisan energy and climate talks to prioritize domestic battery production — and make it easier to mine critical minerals at home, people familiar with the matter tell Axios' Hans Nichols. Why it matters: Sinema's engagement on mining reform reveals both the possibilities — and pitfalls — of a potential bipartisan deal. Democrats are eager for a win this critical midterm year. Sinema's support for permitting the mining reforms puts her on the same page as Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) — as well as some Senate Republicans. It also reveals the contours of a package that would unlock billions of dollars for electric vehicles and green energy. But tackling permitting reform, especially on the politically sensitive issue of mining, could create a chasm in the Democratic Party. Driving the news: Axios is told that Sinema made her case during Tuesday night's meeting of bipartisan senators, led by Manchin. He wants to cobble together a compromise package on climate, energy independence, deficit reduction and prescription drug reform after putting the dagger in President Biden's bigger Build Back Better package in December. "Sen. Sinema remains laser-focused on an all-of-the-above energy approach," said Sinema spokesperson Hannah Hurley. The senator "will continue her work increasing investments in American production of critical minerals and manufacturing of electric vehicles, semiconductors, battery storage and other technologies that tackle our climate challenges, strengthen our national security and help ensure our energy independence." Keep reading.     2. By the numbers: Rising housing costs Data: Zillow; Note: "Typical" costs use the Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/Axios It's more expensive than ever to rent or buy a home, with prices spiking significantly over the past couple of years, according to data from Zillow reviewed by Axios' Stef Kight. Why it matters: The Biden administration unveiled its affordable housing plan on Monday, as it attempts to tackle rising prices — and the broader problem of inflation. Earlier this month, President Biden called inflation his "top domestic priority." By the numbers: As of April, a typical U.S. home was worth $344,000 — up from $270,000 at the end of 2020. That's a jump of just under $74,000 in less than a year and a half. It's also more than prices rose over all four years of the Trump administration, the data showed. Rent is also getting pricy, typically costing $1,900 per month — up more than $300 from December 2020.     3. Worthy of your time President Biden escorted Finnish President Sauli Niinisto (left) and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson along the Colonnade to a meeting in the Oval Office. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images   👎 Four House Democrats voted with Republicans against their party's bill aimed at combatting energy price gouging, with Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.) arguing the legislation is "a distraction that won't actually address the problem," arguing instead for increasing the supply of oil and gas, Axios' Andrew Solender reports in tonight's Sneak roundup. 🇺🇦 Eleven Senate Republicans voted against a bill to send $40 billion in military aid to Ukraine, Fox News reported. "Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) led the opposition to the bill, demanding an inspector general be appointed to oversee the spending." ⚕️ Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who suffered a stroke, tweeted today, "I'm on the mend and on track for a full recovery, and following my doctors' orders, I'll begin to ease back into my schedule." He also announced that he would have voted for the Ukraine aid bill and small business and restaurant relief. 🗣️ Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) told reporters she'll call for Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) to step down as chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee if he moves forward with a reelection bid in a district mostly represented by Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.). On a personal note, AOC confirmed to Insider that she's gotten engaged. 📷 "The Jan. 6 select committee has obtained official White House photographs from the National Archives, including images taken on the day of the Capitol attack," Politico's Kyle Cheney and Nicholas Wu scooped late this afternoon.     A message from American Bankers Association Americans like their bank     A strong majority of U.S. consumers are happy with their bank, think the financial services industry is highly competitive and believe their bank is transparent about disclosing fees. View ABA's recent Morning Consult survey results to see the many reasons Americans appreciate their bank.     4. Pic du jour Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images   People on a tour of the Capitol Dome acknowledged the photographers looking up at them.     A message from American Bankers Association America's banks are empowering consumers to spot phishing scams     Don't fall for bogus calls, emails or texts from scammers pretending to be from your bank. Take note: Your bank will never ask you for sensitive information like your password or PIN. For tips and tools to protect yourself from phishing, check out the award-winning #BanksNeverAskThat campaign.   📬 Thanks for reading this week! Follow the president's trip via Axios.com. We'll be back Sunday evening. 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®. 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