Senators Zoom, but don't rush, on gun compromise

A play-by-play preview of the day's congressional news

May 31, 2022 View in browser   By Katherine Tully-McManus GUN TALKS CONTINUE — A small bipartisan group of Senators are once again seeking a "framework" to scaffold eventual legislation, this time with policies aimed at reducing deadly mass shootings like those in Buffalo and Uvalde. Even while back in their home states for the Memorial Day recess, they are carving out time to get on the phone and on video calls to talk through potential policies. The group, led by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on the Democratic side and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) for Republicans, meets today over Zoom to try to move forward on the basics of a potential compromise. "In between parades, I've been on the phone today w Republican and Democratic Senators trying to find the common denominator on a gun violence bill," Murphy tweeted on Memorial Day. Cornyn told reporters in Texas yesterday that he wants to do "more than we've done in the past," on gun legislation. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said, following a Memorial Day event in Utah, that there is energy behind the efforts and a balance to strike: "I do believe there's a recognition that we've got to do something. We've got to find some answers, make sure that we, of course, protect people's constitutional rights, but at the same time make sure that we're protecting our children," Romney said, according to KSL News in Salt Lake City. He said he'd be open to an expansion of the background check system and changes to make background checks more effective. Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) told local reporters that a so-called red flag bill focused on grant programs for states who implement risk protection orders, sponsored by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.) Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and King "is in the mix for discussion," with the larger group, but "whether it will make it into the final package is unclear at this time." Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he'd give the talks some breathing room until after the recess, but has also pledged a vote on gun safety regardless of if there's a bipartisan compromise or not. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on gun violence and kids on June 15th. "This time, failure cannot be an option," Murphy wrote over the weekend. RELATED: Jacobs proposes gun safety measures after Buffalo massacre: 'This has been a profoundly impactful event', from Jerry Zremski at The Buffalo News; U.S. marks Memorial Day weekend with at least 12 mass shootings, from The Washington Post   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 Tuesday, May 31, where the Capitol's summer house is closed, despite summer weather arriving in full force. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) gives an interview in his office on Capitol Hill May 24, 2022. | Francis Chung/E&E News/POLITICO TOM COTTON WON'T BUDGE — On anything. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) stakes out hardline positions on everything from immigration to criminal justice and federal spending and then waits for his fellow Republicans to join him. He won't say that he's not running for president in 2024. And Burgess points out that Cotton could offer an interesting alternative to former President Donald Trump: a candidate who isn't interested in courting or collaborating with Democrats and also isn't afraid to take a swing at Republicans. Don't miss Burgess' look at the unyielding Arkansan after a wide-ranging interview. PORTMAN PRESSES UKRAINE WEAPONRY — Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) crossed into Ukraine over the weekend while visiting the Ukraine-Moldova border crossing at Palanca on a trip that also included Stuttgart, Germany, and Bucharest, Romania. Portman, as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and co-founder of the Ukraine Caucus, has been a vocal supporter of strong U.S. support for Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion. "Based on my briefings and discussions this weekend in Germany and Eastern Europe, including with senior Ukrainian officials, I believe the administration should immediately provide artillery to Ukraine that can more effectively counter the Russian weapons," he tweeted. Portman wants the Biden administration to provide Ukraine the MLRS mobile rocket launchers its government has requested. Officials told The Wall Street Journal that the administration plans to provide Ukraine with the guided-rocket system that has a range of more than 40 miles. The move would boost Ukraine's firepower against the Russian invasion in the Donbas, but would not equip them to hit targets deep into Russian territory and expand the scope of the war. "We are not going to send to Ukraine rocket systems that strike into Russia," Biden told reporters on the South Lawn on Monday. EAST vs WEST IN NEW YORK CITY — Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) privately tried to convince Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) to abandon her longtime district and run in the freshly redrawn NY-10, but she wasn't letting that fly, reports Nicholas Fandos at The New York Times. "She said basically the opposite, and so it was an impasse," Nadler told Fandos. As for retirement rumblings…both lawmakers balked. "I've never been more effective," Maloney told Fandos. Nadler's response to possible retirement: "No. No. No. No. No. No." A great dissection of a fraught member-on-member primary matchup: Maloney vs. Nadler? New York Must Pick a Side (East or West) THE GOLDEN STATE, IN PROFILE — Two deep dives from the West Coast this weekend, one on L.A. mayoral candidate Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and another on Sen. Alex Padilla's (D-Calif.) drive for reelection: — How Karen Bass went from South L.A. activist to mayoral hopeful, from Benjamin Oreskes at The Los Angeles Times — Alex Padilla is a heavy favorite to keep Senate seat. Why is he campaigning so hard? from Tal Kopan from The San Francisco Chronicle More California: The suspense in California's June 7 primary election is in races far down the ballot, from Phil Willon and Seema Mehta at The Los Angeles Times PREMIUM CONCERNS — Obamacare could come back to bite Democrats. The $1.9 trillion pandemic aid package signed by President Joe Biden last year temporarily boosted financial assistance under the 2014 health care law. But there's a cliff approaching, with that increase set to explore at the end of the year, which will trigger a big increase in premiums. The timing of the premium increases is of particular concern to Democrats: notices would go out about the price hikes just before the midterm elections. Peter Sullivan has more from The Hill: Worries about coming ObamaCare premium spikes intensify   DON'T MISS DIGITAL FUTURE DAILY - OUR TECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER, RE-IMAGINED:  Technology is always evolving, and our new tech-obsessed newsletter is too! Digital Future Daily unlocks the most important stories determining the future of technology, from Washington to Silicon Valley and innovation power centers around the world. Readers get an in-depth look at how the next wave of tech will reshape civic and political life, including activism, fundraising, lobbying and legislating. Go inside the minds of the biggest tech players, policymakers and regulators to learn how their decisions affect our lives. Don't miss out, subscribe today.     PAUL PELOSI — Paul Pelosi, husband of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), was arrested for alleged drunk driving in Napa County on Saturday night, while Speaker Pelosi was still on the East Coast for graduation at Brown University. He was released Sunday morning on $5,000 bail, court records show. HUDDLE HOTDISH Bernie on the mound… Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was all smiles (and strikes!) throwing out the first pitch at a Vermont Lake Monsters game. There's video from the Lake Monsters and from his wife Jane. QUICK LINKS  Vermont likely to elect its 1st woman to Congress this year, from Wilson Ring at The AP Some far-right members are being replaced by traditional conservatives, from Paul Kane at The Washington Post Meet The Man Personalizing Caskets For The Children Killed In The Uvalde School Shooting, from Kadia Goba at Buzzfeed News After Georgia losses, Trump sets sights on ousting Cheney in Wyoming, from Dave Weigel and Josh Dawsey at The Washington Post TRANSITIONS  Abdul Sanee has started work as an analyst at the Defense Department. He most recently was a legislative correspondent for Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.). Shawn Gamble is joining Visions Federal Credit Union as government relations officer. He previously was a field representative in the office of Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.). TODAY IN CONGRESS The House convenes at 11 a.m. for a pro forma session. The Senate convenes at 11 a.m. for a pro forma session. AROUND THE HILL A quiet recess Tuesday. TRIVIA FRIDAY'S WINNER: Miriam Rollin correctly answered that James Garfield spoke at the first Memorial Day – then known as Decoration Day – national commemoration. TODAY'S QUESTION: Before it was Capitol Hill (before the Capitol sat atop it) what was the slope called? 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   Follow us

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