| | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus | Presented by Connected Commerce Council | With help from Andrew Desiderio THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE IS A UNION HOUSE? — The House will vote next week on a resolution to codify House staffers' right to organize and bargain collectively — a move that will launch a new phase of staff efforts to form unions. The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.), would expand the right of unionization to about 10,000 "covered employees" in the House. Plenty of other Legislative Branch workers are already unionized and bargain collectively, from the Capitol Police to the Government Accountability Office and Library of Congress. Last year marked the highest rate of staff turnover in the House in more than 20 years, with a 55 percent jump over 2020 exit rates. "Congressional staffers deserve the same fundamental rights and protections as workers all across the country, including the right to bargain collectively," Pelosi wrote to her House colleagues this morning. Word from the workers: "100 days after Speaker Pelosi promised to support staff unionization – and as the groundswell of labor organizing across the country sweeps through the halls of Congress – the credibility of lawmakers is now being put to the test. Will our bosses finally lead by example?" the Congressional Workers Union said in a statement this morning to Huddle. "Next week, every Member of Congress who's stood up for workers' rights must vote to pass the resolution to give their own workers the right to unionize and bargain collectively, free from retaliation." Pay floor and paid for: Speaker Nancy Pelosi is set to announce Friday that she is establishing a minimum pay rate for House employees, $45,000, starting Sept. 1. Punchbowl News first reported the new pay floor. "Doing so will open the doors to public service for those who may not have been able to afford to do so in the past," Pelosi writes. "This is also an issue of fairness, as many of the youngest staffers working the longest hours often earn the lowest salaries." There was a 21 percent increase in member office funds in the latest omnibus spending bill and the increase is expected to pay for the new minimum salary for the most junior aides. Committees received a much smaller increase, but have historically had higher basic pay than member offices. Cap and paid: Pelosi will once again boost the pay cap for staff at the top rung of the ladder, setting a maximum annual pay rate for House staff at $203,700 to match the Senate's increase. In August 2021, Pelosi uncoupled staff and member pay, allowing the highest-ranking staff to earn more than lawmakers, whose salaries have been frozen for more than a decade. Rank-and-file members of Congress earn $174,000 annually, but some in leadership have higher salaries. The speaker earns $223,500, while the majority and minority leaders earn $193,400. | | | | 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. | | | | |
TGIF! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Friday, May 6, where the end of August recess might be a little sweeter for some House staff this year.
WHAT'S A SPARTZ STAFFER TO DO?— They are leaving, that's what. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) is facing a staff exodus. This week her chief of staff Renee Hudson is leaving the office, and another top staffer left in November. Three other aides are planning to depart this month and another exited weeks ago. The chart-topping turnover in the first-term lawmaker's office has gotten the attention of GOP leadership, which has tried to address her performance as an employer at least twice since the end of last year, a senior Republican close to the matter told Olivia. Hudson was regarded as the "gold standard" for a chief, known for shielding junior staff from Spartz volatility. Spartz' aides described group discussions about pacts to leave the office if Hudson left. Now, that's the reality — and the situation is expected to worsen for those left behind. "That's the common theme: Staffers do their job, and then Victoria comes in saying that they have no idea what they're doing, that they are morons, calling them 'idiots,'" said one former staffer. "Senior staff was amazing. That staff was really trauma bonded … we've all been through some shit." Olivia has much, much more: Amid an uproar over Capitol staff mistreatment, meet the House's 'worst boss' Spartz responds: Spartz acknowledged that her working style is "not for everyone," in a statement to Olivia. "I'm grateful to my current and former staff. I work extremely hard at a pace that is not for everyone. I remain focused on working hard for the people of Indiana," she said. A SINKING ROE VOTE — "Next week, the U.S. Senate is going to vote on legislation to codify a woman's right to seek an abortion into federal law," Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced Thursday. He'll file cloture Monday on a bill from Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) that would put into law that medical workers have the right to provide abortions and patients have the right to receive them. The Senate would vote Wednesday to move forward on the bill. The votes aren't there. A nearly identical piece of legislation failed in the Senate in February and counted Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) among its opponents. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) that she has concerns with the Blumenthal legislation. "My goal is to codify what is essentially existing law," Collins told reporters. "I'm not trying to go beyond current law." | | A message from Connected Commerce Council: Small businesses don't have to act small. Digital tools like marketplaces and online fulfillment services help level the playing field for entrepreneurs everywhere. In fact, 87% of small businesses use digital tools to find new customers, while 84% leverage them to sell their products and services. Tech gives small business a huge advantage. Discover all the ways Tech helps drive small business success. | | |
SILVER STATE BELLWETHER — Keep an eye on Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), who's fighting to keep her seat in a battleground state that voted overwhelmingly in 1990 to codify Roe (the only one of this fall's top-tier Senate battleground states to do so.)
"The first female senator ever elected in Nevada is now betting that the same coalition behind that 32-year-old move is intact and motivated to turn out," writes Burgess. Cortez Masto doesn't think her race will be decided solely on abortion rights, of course. But she and other vulnerable Democrats are counting on some increased attention and turnout. "I wouldn't underestimate this issue for any woman and men who support [abortion rights] across the country, to be galvanized, to turn out. Whether they voted in the past or not," Cortez Masto told Burgess. "This is an issue that, to me, crosses state boundaries." Read the latest from Burgess: Vulnerable Senate Dems campaign as last hope against abortion ban RELATED: How the Supreme Court leak immediately reverberated in U.S. Senate races, from Amanda Becker at The 19th FIVE ABORTION STORIES FROM CONGRESS — There are five members of Congress who have been public about their personal abortion stories: Reps. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.),Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) and Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.). All of them sat down with ELLE Magazine to talk about their experiences and abortion in America. The trailblazer: Speier spoke on the House floor in 2011 about the abortion she had at age 40, as part of the debate on a bill targeting funding for Planned Parenthood. She couldn't have known at the time that her speech would inspire current and future colleagues to speak out about their own abortion experiences. "Every time I heard Congresswoman Speier talk, I said, 'Oh my God, that is so brave of you.' Because she talked about it long before me. She gave me a lot of courage to step up when I did," Lee told the group and ELLE. Jayapal said she Googled "Has any member of Congress ever spoken about an abortion?" and got her answer. "I watched your video," Jayapal told Speier. "And I thought to myself, if she can do it, so can I. And I just want to thank you for that. I decided I was going to talk. It was liberating and terrifying." TONY BLINKEN, CALL YOUR OFFICE — It was never going to be easy to persuade Congress to back the Biden administration's emerging (but still elusive) nuclear deal with Iran. But a Senate vote this week underscored just how difficult it's going to be. Though it was non-binding, the "motion to instruct" offered by Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) won support from 16 Democrats (including Schumer!) and nearly all Republicans, easily clearing the 60-vote threshold. It stated that any nuclear deal should also address Iran's support for terrorism, and shouldn't lift sanctions on the IRGC, the elite branch of Iran's military. The problem for Biden? The former is basically unattainable, and the latter is a final sticking point in the talks. The vote was a tough one for Democrats, especially those up for re-election this year. Many lawmakers viewed it as a "test vote" for an eventual congressional disapproval resolution. Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who supported the Lankford measure and opposes the current iteration of the Iran talks, said the vote was "a pretty strong statement," adding that the deal being discussed would "help fuel" Iran's ambitions. Others dismissed the significance of the vote. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) had this to say: "Motions to instruct are like Student Council. Please quote me on that." Andrew has much more on this emerging dynamic over the Iran nuclear talks. | | |
Vibe check… Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) is in a mood.
Has a rose ever smelled so sweet? … Max Rose is not giving sweet in response to his old pal Joe Cunningham's ribbing on Twitter. The red tie is a good look, Max. Cheers to… embracing nicknames. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell gave Republican senators a bottle of "Old Crow" bourbon ahead of the Kentucky Derby, leaning into one f the nicknames former President Donald Trump tried to mock him with. Anthony has more. QUICK LINKS Once conflicted, Biden embraces role as abortion defender, from The AP Republicans Running in Moderate Districts Still Have Extreme Jan. 6 Views, from Sam Brodey at The Daily Beast Paul Gosar spends most in House on taxpayer-funded travel even as he rails against 'bloated' government, from Manu Raju at CNN TRANSITIONS Amir Avin has been promoted to be communications director for Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). John Seibels has been promoted to be comms director for Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.). Claire Bienvenu is now executive assistant at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She most recently was scheduler for Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.). | | | | INTRODUCING 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. | | | | |
TODAY IN CONGRESS
The House convenes at 10 a.m. for a pro forma session The Senate is out. AROUND THE HILL Looking like a quiet Friday. | | |
THURSDAY'S WINNER: Alex Keledjian correctly answered that it took six takes for Nixon to make it through the phrase "Sock it to me" without sounding angry or offended for his cameo on Laugh-In. Here's more about it from Smithsonian Magazine.
TODAY'S QUESTION from Alex: This former U.S. Senator was famous for his trailblazing career and being in-laws with Soviet Dictator Joseph Stalin, including offering his home as the birth location for the Soviet leader's grandchild. 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 Connected Commerce Council: Small businesses have a big impact thanks to Tech. E-commerce marketplaces, two-day shipping, and powerful analytics help startups go from dream to reality in just a few clicks. Plus, Tech levels the playing field for small business leaders everywhere — 91% of SMBs say that digital tools are important, if not critical, to the success of their business. Discover all the ways Tech helps drive small business success. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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