News : Holiday hotline and a very special visitor

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Holiday hotline and a very special visitor

Dec 21, 2022

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By Katherine Tully-McManus

Presented by National Retail Federation

With help from Jordain Carney

Sens. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) converse.

Will the Senate speed up this spending bill? | Francis Chung/POLITICO

HERE COMES THE HOTLINE — The Senate started a hotline overnight on a package of amendments and a time agreement on the year-end spending deal, a leadership aide told Huddle.

Hotlines are for leadership to suss out potential problems and objections and Senators are being asked to notify leadership if they would object to the deal that's being run right now. At the moment it isn't clear if the proposed deal, which would allow for nine amendment votes, eight Republican and one bipartisan, will clear.

Senators on both sides of the aisle are eager to get the deal done and get out the door for the holidays. A deal to lock in votes on the nine amendments in exchange for an agreement to expedite final passage could put the omnibus on a path to clear the Senate as soon as Wednesday.

All the rumors are true, yeah — "I heard a rumor that people would like to go home," Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said while leaving the Capitol Tuesday night.

"I'm all for a time agreement," Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) told your Huddle host last night. "I don't think delaying it does us any good. Get the votes and get everybody home."

"This is the Prego spaghetti sauce of spending legislation," Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said in a late night floor speech on Wednesday, complaining that there's too much in the omnibus.

Among the nine amendments in the hotline are:

A proposal from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to raise the threshold of votes needed for waiving PAYGO

Sen. Ron Johnson's (R-Wis.) proposal to strike all earmarks and another stripping funding for transportation of migrants.
Three amendments focused on the Pregnant Fairness Workers Act, one from Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), with additions from Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Braun.
Proposals from Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) on Title 42 border restrictions and an amendment to extend military benefits to Navy Lt. Ridge Alkonis, who is jailed in Japan.
A bipartisan proposal from Sens. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on 9/11 families.

All the proposals besides the earmark elimination would require 60 votes for adoption into the underlying bill.

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said last night that he'd like to see the omnibus wrapped and sent to the House before Wednesday night's joint session speech from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"That would be ideal," Thune said. "The goal would be to try and get the amendments tee'd up to be voted so that… if that [Zelenskyy] were to happen tomorrow people could decide whether to stay around for that."

MR. PRESIDENT ON THE MOVE — Three hundred days since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed overnight that he will be in Washington on Wednesday for meetings with President Joe Biden at the White House and to address a joint session of Congress in the evening.

The trip is Zelenskyy's first since the conflict began. Sources stressed Tuesday night that plans are fluid and subject to change depending on security concerns. But Zelenskyy's tweet, his addition on the White House schedule and Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) letter of invitation, make the plans look much more solid.

Pelosi encouraged members to be present in the chamber on Wednesday evening "for a very special focus on Democracy." With winter storms bearing down on much of the nation, many scores of proxy votes were expected on the omnibus. We'll see if her call for attendance changes that.

As Zenenskyy's visit unfolds, Congress is on track to move forward on $45 billion in additional military and economic aid to Ukraine as part of the $1.7 trillion year-end funding deal. But further aid is far from guaranteed. The new House GOP majority isn't keen on continuing the flow of funds.

Will his skeptics hear him out? Zenenskyy's trip to Capitol Hill could allow him to personally convey how vital U.S. aid is to Ukraine and that it is being put to good use.

Some minds simply won't be changed. "Of course the shadow president has to come to Congress and explain why he needs billions of American's taxpayer dollars for the 51st state, Ukraine. This is absurd. Put America First!!!" tweeted Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Tuesday.

A message from National Retail Federation:

The INFORM Consumers Act is a bipartisan solution to stop organized retail crime. It's supported by retailers, law enforcement organizations and consumer advocates alike. It's time for Congress to pass the INFORM Consumers Act — this year — and help keep our communities safe. Learn more here.

GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Wednesday, Dec. 21, where we expect the faint whiff of Senate jet fumes to get stronger.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: We'll be off next week but back in your inbox in time for the first day of the 118th Congress on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

RELEASE THE REPORT — The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol is set to release its final report today along with a kickoff of a rolling release of troves of interviews, transcripts and evidence from the probe.

The panel has spent months trying to present an engaging argument to the American people. Its lawmakers have repeatedly stressed they want to avoid the pitfalls of the Mueller Report (a snooze), so we expect their report to follow suit with an atypical format. Stay tuned!

If you want a hard copy of the report, you can sign up on the Government Publishing Office website for alerts when the paper and ink version Jan. 6 report becomes available.

Committee members converse before a House Ways and Means Committee meeting.

Ways and Means weighed releasing Trump's tax returns Tuesday, and voted 24-16 in favor of release. From left, Reps. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), Richard Neal (D-Mass.), John Larson (D-Conn.), and Kevin Brady (R-Texas) on Dec. 20, 2022. | Francis Chung/POLITICO

RUNNING THROUGH THE RETURNS — Spoiler alert on Trump's tax returns: He didn't pay much. Documents released by Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee Tuesday night show that Former President Donald Trump repeatedly paid little ($750) or nothing ($0) in federal income taxes between 2015 and 2020. Despite earning tens of millions of dollars each year, Trump's claims of steep business losses kept his tax bills low.

Ways and Means Chair Richard Neal (D-Mass.) said the full returns would be released in the coming days, after personal information including addresses and Social Security numbers are scrubbed. Democrats have asked the Joint Committee on Taxation to weigh in and examine the filings. Our tax men Brian Faler and Benjamin Guggenheim have much, much more on the Trump taxes state-of-play.

RELATED READS: Donald and Melania Trump Reported Negative Income In Four Years From 2015 Through 2020, from Mark Maremont and Richard Rubin at The Wall Street Journal, Ways and Means Committee Report and The Joint Committee on Taxation summary of Trump's returns

POLITICO AT CES 2023 : We are bringing a special edition of our Digital Future Daily newsletter to Las Vegas to cover CES 2023. The newsletter will take you inside the largest and most influential technology event on the planet, featuring every major and emerging industry in the technology ecosystem gathered in one place. The newsletter runs from Jan. 5-7 and will focus on the public policy related aspects of the event. Sign up today to receive exclusive coverage of CES 2023.

WILL MITT HIT THE TRAIL? — Being a leading foil to Donald Trump would make it easy for Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) to decide to forgo a reelection bid. It's not like he needs the paycheck.

But, as Burgess writes: "With the former president weakened, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, no fan of Trump himself, is among the top Republicans exhorting Romney to seek another six-year term in 2024." Mitt is mulling it. And he thinks he could win.

"I've faced long odds: Getting the nomination in 2012 was a long shot, becoming a Republican governor in one of the most liberal states in America, Massachusetts. ... So I'm convinced that if I run, I win. But that's a decision I'll make," he told Burgess.

IMMIGRATION ACTION PROMISED — Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) said on Tuesday that when the new Congress convenes in the new year, she and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) will get back to work on immigration issues. "When we come back in January, one of the first things I will do is convene a bipartisan group of Senators who are willing and committed to get stuff done and bring them to the border to see what Arizonans see every day," she pledged.

A message from National Retail Federation:

HUDDLE HOTDISH

Farewell fanfare… Outgoing Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) gathered with family and staff on Tuesday after his farewell speech on the Senate floor. Al Drago captured touching scenes with his wife Marcelle and your Huddle host took less impressive pics, but got the big staff crowd.

Farm bill on the mooooove?... Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) brought a comforting calf to work. "We're going to be working on the Farm Bill soon, so I brought in an expert," he tweeted.

TRANSITIONS

Graeme Crews is now comms director for Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. He previously was comms director for the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis under Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.).

Abby May, Rachel Kline and Kevin Porter are joining Rep.-elect Wiley Nickel's (D-N.C.) office. May will be chief of staff and previously was Nickel's campaign manager. Kline will be deputy COS and legislative director and currently is deputy COS and legislative director for retiring Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.). Porter will be comms director and currently is comms director for outgoing Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.).

Mariana Perera is now D.C. scheduler for Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.). She most recently was a Fulbright research fellow and is an Eric Swalwell alum.

Andrew Leppert and Abby Baerveldt are joining Rep.-elect Mark Alford's (R-Mo.) office. Leppert will be comms director and previously was campaign manager for Eric Schmitt's Senate campaign. Baerveldt will be press secretary and digital assistant and previously was digital director for Schmitt's campaign.

Anna Taylor is departing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-N.Y.) office as economic policy director after serving for 11 years. She is also a Blanche Lincoln alum.

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TODAY IN CONGRESS

The House convenes at 2 p.m. for legislative business and first votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. "The vote series on Wednesday is expected to be longer and later than usual," Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) warned members.

The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. and will consider the nomination of Lynne Tracy to be Ambassador to Russia, with a vote on confirmation of the nomination at 11:30 a.m. Further votes are expected.

AROUND THE HILL

12:30 p.m. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and other GOP senators hold a press conference on immigration on the southern border and Title 42. (S-325)

1 p.m. House Democratic Conference Chair Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and DCCC Chair nominee Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) hold a press conference on Democrats' path to the majority in 2024. (DCCC HQ)

2 p.m. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) holds a pen and pad briefing. (H-107)

2 p.m. Sens. Paul, Lee, Johnson, Braun and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) hold a press conference on spending. (S-325)

TRIVIA

TUESDAY'S WINNER: Bill Geary correctly answered that the only years since the modern budget process began in 1977 in which Congress passed all appropriations bills on time are 1977, 1989, 1995 and 1997.

TODAY'S QUESTION from Bill: Then-Sen. Harry Truman urged the establishment of what committee, still a model for Congressional investigations, that led him from relative obscurity to the vice-presidency?

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 National Retail Federation:

According to NRF's National Retail Security Survey, retailers reported an average 26.5% increase in organized retail crime last year alone. Retailers, consumer advocates and law enforcement organizations agree: Congress should pass the INFORM Consumers Act this year. This bipartisan bill will make it tougher for criminals to sell stolen goods online, while ensuring honest small businesses can use ecommerce to reach customers. Learn more here.