| | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus | Presented by the National Association of Manufacturers | With help from Nicholas Wu, Sarah Ferris and Jordain Carney IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN — The door isn't closed for action on Democrats' gun reform and public safety bills that were put on ice earlier this week . House Democrats are keeping their options open for trying to pass the package before jetting out of Washington for their August break. The Rules Committee convened an emergency meeting on Thursday night (yes, during the the Congressional Baseball Game) to grant same-day authority so it could fast-track bills to the floor Friday. Chairman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) said the request was related to the gun reforms and public safety package that Democrats pulled from their schedule earlier this week amid an avalanche of pushback. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have been leading negotiations on accountability language, like funding guardrails or benchmarks, that could be added if they strike a deal. McGovern acknowledged the move at Rules was preliminary, adding that Democrats were "doing this just in case." The Congressional Black Caucus is set to meet virtually at 9 a.m. to discuss changes to the public safety package, according to a source familiar with the situation. There is a tentative agreement between centrist Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), CBC Chair Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) and key police unions on accountability language and oversight for policing that could be included in the package, if they can convince Democrats across the spectrum to sign on. It is not yet clear if progressives would go along with compromise language. Expect a fierce whip operation to unfold today, as a divided Democratic caucus tries to come together ahead of the break. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) asked if the House would be in session through the weekend. McGovern quipped back: "I sure as hell hope not." On the House schedule, the final votes before the August recess is set to start are marked "???" HOUSE DEMS LEARN TO LOVE JOE MANCHIN — House Democrats have been tired of having to settle for whatever legislation can clear the closely divided Senate. And Democrats across the spectrum have had fighting words for hard-to-please centrist Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) as he's batted down Democratic priorities. But this week, they're singing Manchin's praises. "But after months of feeling like Charlie Brown hoping Manchin's Lucy won't yank the football away, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her caucus are now eager to take whatever Manchin and the rest of Senate Democrats can get through their 50-50 majority. If Democrats manage to pass the bill, it will give them a chance to trumpet action on several long-running campaign promises — on taxes, climate and drug pricing — in the months before a potentially brutal November election," write Jordain and Sarah . They'll even cut their Summer recess to vote on the Manchin-blessed package. They are expected to return to Washington in less than two weeks to take up the legislation, if the Senate is able to pass it.
| | | | 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 Friday, July 29. THE SINEMA OF ALL FEARS — Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) is still a question mark on the Democrats' $700 billion-plus climate, tax and health care bill. She hasn't commented on the legislation, which was a deal struck between fellow centrist Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). And she isn't expected to take a position until she reviews the text and the rulings from the Senate parliamentarian, according to her spokesperson. Under the Senate's special rules to allow budgetary measures to circumvent the filibuster, Democrats will need every last vote — including Sinema's — to pass this cornerstone domestic policy package. One person who spoke to her said she was "frustrated" by the lack of consultation on the package, while another said she was "totally shocked" by Wednesday's announcement. And yet, Dems still think she'll back the bill in the end. Fellow Arizonan Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) thinks she'll bring it across the finish line. "Her state is going to need her on this," adding that she "politically doesn't have a choice." More from Marianne, Anthony and Burgess: Silent Sinema stresses Dems as they race to pass Manchin-blessed deal RELATED: How Joe Manchin and Chuck Schumer's secret negotiations revived Joe Biden's agenda and shocked Washington , from Kevin Liptak, Manu Raju, Ella Nilsen and Alex Rogers at CNN THE MCCONNELL-MCCARTHY RELATIONSHIP — "Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell regularly meet to coordinate their management of Republicans in the House and Senate. You wouldn't know it from their voting records. Congress' two GOP leaders split yet again this week on a bill intended to stoke domestic microchip manufacturing, on top of a bevy of past fissures that include infrastructure, gun safety and whether to embrace former President Donald Trump after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack," write Burgess and Olivia . RELATED: ' Getting Rolled': McConnell Was Outfoxed With His Own Playbook , from Sam Brodey at The Daily Beast
| | | | A message from the National Association of Manufacturers: Manufacturers are driving our economy and helping to rebuild supply chains amid record cost increases and historic worker shortages. But tax increases on manufacturers pending before Congress do nothing to bring down costs, solve the workforce crisis or promote energy security. Learn why the National Association of Manufacturers is urging Congress to reject higher taxes at https://nam.org/taxaction. | | | SENATE PAY DEMAND, ANSWERED — Senate staffers called on appropriators earlier this month to fund Senate offices at a level that would allow for a minimum annual pay for full time staff of $45,000, and on Thursday appropriators delivered. The chamber's fiscal 2023 Legislative Branch spending bill includes $1.135 billion in Senate salaries and operations, which includes allocations for office funds that would allow for that base pay level. Appropriators note, however, that staff salaries remain at the discretion of individual Senators and the Committee on Rules. (Unlike the House, where a new $45,000 pay floor is set to go into effect in September.) The leaders of the staff letter, signed by 110 Senate aides, applauded the allocation but said there's more to do: "The fight is not over. We must ensure that this increase is preserved in the final version of the appropriations bill signed into law and that our offices use these funds as intended: to create pay equity and deliver a living wage to all staff," they told Huddle. "This funding must be used to raise the wages of those at the bottom of the Senate pay ladder, those who struggle to pay rent, buy groceries, and afford other necessities." Interns increase: The bill also includes $7 million for Senate intern pay, which averages to about $70,000 per senator's office. Each office can decide how to distribute their pool of funds among interns hired. RELATED: Senate needs its own diversity and inclusion office, advocates say , from Chris Cioffi at CQ Roll Call
| | | RAIN DELAY, GOP VICTORY — Climate activists promised to shut down the Congressional Baseball Game, but a wild stormfront got the job done instead. The game hit a rain delay in the fourth inning that soaked spectators but didn't dampen Republican's streak, they won 10-0. The game marked the second loss for Democrats since ace pitcher Cedric Richmond (D-La.) left Capitol Hill for a job with the Biden administration. Moments not to miss:
- Climate protesters outside the ballpark demonstrated and some were arrested. Inside the park, they unfurled a banner that read "WHY PLAY BALL WHILE THE WORLD BURNS," which was quickly removed by security officials.
- After Linda Sanchez' at-bat, she flipped the GOP bench the bird while she made her way to the Dems dugout after her at-bat.
Look for some limping: Members leave it all on the field, making the day-after a little painful. "During the game, you feel like you're 18 years old — you're playing in a major league field in front of thousands of people," Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) told Roll Call. "The next morning, you feel 118 because everything in your body is sore." But his newly unveiled portrait should make him feel a little better.
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Police carry a protester at Nationals Park in Washington yesterday during the congressional charity baseball game. Climate activists said they would try to disrupt the event. | Francis Chung/E&E News | | | | | INTRODUCING POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don't miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY . | | | | | QUICK LINKS WEEKEND READ: Jim Clyburn's Long Quest for Black Political Power , from Molly Ball in Columbia, S.C. for Time Magazine. Come for the deep dive, stay for the archive photos of Clyburn's long, long road in politics. Inside the final days of Don Young's D.C. office , from Riley Rogerson at the Anchorage Daily News Josh Hawley is writing book on masculinity. Senator's 'Manhood' goes on sale next May , from The Kansas City Star Susan Collins: Democrats' Climate Deal May Doom Bipartisan Efforts On Same-Sex Marriage by Jonathan Nicholson at HuffPost TRANSITIONS Erica Chabot is now majority staff director for the Senate Agriculture Committee. She previously was legislative director and deputy chief of staff for Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).
| | | | A message from the National Association of Manufacturers:   | | | TODAY IN CONGRESS The House convenes at 9 a.m. for consideration of a wildfire and drought package and will vote on legislation governing the trade of big cats. The Senate is out. AROUND THE HILL 9:30 a.m. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) holds a press conference (Studio A). 9:30 a.m. Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), Garret Graves (R-La.) and others hold a press conference on the Social Security Fairness Act (House Triangle). 10:45 a.m. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) holds her weekly press conference (Studio A).
| | | THURSDAY'S WINNER: Chase Starr correctly answered that President Rutherford B. Hayes is honored in the Paraguayan state of Presidente Hayes (whose capital is Villa Hayes or Hayesville) each year. More from NPR . TODAY'S QUESTION from: What national monument is sometimes referred to as "three surveyors and another guy"? 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 National Association of Manufacturers: The National Association of Manufacturers has led the charge against higher taxes on manufacturers. Undoing the progress achieved through tax reform—after which manufacturers kept their promises to raise wages and benefits, hire new workers and invest in their communities—would cost 1 million jobs in the first two years, according to NAM research. With Congress now considering proposals to raise taxes on manufacturers, the NAM is sending a clear message that higher taxes will do nothing to promote competitiveness or address rising costs and workforce shortages. Learn more at https://nam.org/taxaction. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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