News: 'Monuments are for pigeons and dogs'

Monday, December 19, 2022

'Monuments are for pigeons and dogs'

Dec 19, 2022

Presented by National Retail Federation

Shelby

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) is spending his final weeks in office negotiating one last spending deal, apparently agitating his GOP colleagues in the House in the process. | Francis Chung/POLITICO

THE TANTALIZING WAIT FOR TEXT — All aboard the omnibus? The text of the massive year-end spending bill is expected to go public as soon as today.

Appropriations staff in both chambers spent the weekend compiling thousands of pages of legislative text and piecing together each subcommittee's portion of the $1.7 trillion year-end spending package.

Congressional leaders have signaled that they'll include up to $37 billion to support Ukraine in the war against Russia and a bill to overhaul the Electoral Count Act to update how Congress certifies election results.

Angling for inclusion: Even as the clock ticks closer to Friday's deadline, lawmakers are still pushing attach riders that would renew the pandemic-launched child tax credit, reduce cuts to Medicare and create a legal banking framework for cannabis companies. Mainers on Capitol Hill are pushing for lobstering provisions to be included in the massive spending package. And More than 30 retired military officers are pushing for legislation to support Afghans who helped the U.S. military to be included. "At the end of the day, you're only going to get a couple of priorities into this omnibus," Rep. Peter Meijer (R.-Mich.) told The Washington Post about the Afghan Adjustment Act. "This is an uphill battle all the way."

Timing is everything: The linchpin this week is if the Senate can get agreement from all 100 Senators to expedite action on the spending bill (and shorten the 30 hours of post-cloture time.) Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has said he won't stay in town past Thursday and the bill still needs to move through the House before Friday's deadline.

SITTING DOWN WITH SHELBY — Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala) is spending the last week of his 36-year Senate career putting the finishing touches on a massive year-end spending deal that he brokered with Democrats, while taking heat from fellow Republicans who see him as a sellout.

In the House, Freedom Caucus Chair Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) calls the bill expected to drop today a "betrayal" and Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) describes the lead appropriator's work as a "new monument to himself." (Shelby countered: "I don't want a monument. Monuments are for pigeons and dogs.")

Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), who's set to chair the House Appropriations Committee next year, wouldn't even come to the negotiating table with Shelby, Senate Appropriations Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and current panel chair Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) on the year-end deal.

"I was surprised that they didn't enter into negotiations, because they are the Republicans in the House," Shelby told POLITICO last week during an hour-long interview in his office. "They should have been at the table, but they chose not to come. That's up to them."

But Shelby also sees the reality that House Republicans are facing. "The Republican leader in the House [Kevin McCarthy], he's focused on one thing: being speaker," Shelby said. "That's part of the political game."

Caitlin Emma, Burgess Everett and Jordain Carney have more on Shelby's Senate swan song.

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 Monday, Dec. 19, where we wish a Happy Hanukkah to all those celebrating.

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.

ROAD TO THE JAN. 6 REPORT — The Jan. 6 select committee meets this afternoon and will unveil the initial parts of its final report, the culmination of an 18-month investigation. Those blockbuster summer hearings were just the tip of a much larger behind-the-scenes iceberg that the committee hopes will come into view when the report is made public.

Criminal referrals: The panel is expected to vote today to urge the Justice Department to pursue at least three criminal charges against former President Donald Trump: insurrection, obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to defraud the United States government. As Kyle and Nicholas reported on Friday, the referrals are part of a subcommittee report that the full select committee is expected to approve this afternoon.

And yet… The panel has no control of the charging decisions, which rest completely with DOJ prosecutors. But there is motivation by the committee to build a historical record and shape public opinion.

Schiff says: "We will also be considering what's the appropriate remedy for members of Congress who ignore a congressional subpoena, as well as the evidence that was so pertinent to our investigation and why we wanted to bring them in," Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) told CNN's "State of the Union." "Censure was something that we have considered. Ethics referrals is something we have considered."

All the shoes drop: The referrals may not be the most significant element of the Jan. 6 panel's closing arguments. The report is expected to be accompanied by more than 1,000 interview transcripts, and other documents that could help prosecutors build cases against witnesses. Kyle and Nicholas have a preview of what to expect from the select committee this week.

RELATED READ: Opinion: I Was Caught in the Capitol Riot, and I Still Feel the Pain of That Day, by Caroline Edwards in The New York Times

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THE LAST ELECTION OF 2022 — The general election to fill the vacancy left by the death of Rep. Donald McEachin (D-Va.) isn't until February, but in the solidly Democratic Virginia 4th District, tomorrow's firehouse primary is expected to determine the race.

Candidates had just about a week to campaign and prepare for the primary, including State Sen. Jennifer McClellan, a leading progressive in the Virginia legislature who is at this point a favorite to win. McClellan faces a challenge from attorney Joe Morrissey, a Democrat with an independent streak (like favoring some restrictions on abortion). McClellan would be the first Black woman elected to Congress in Virginia.

Nuts and bolts: Anyone can participate in the Democratic firehouse primary, as long as they sign a document saying they are a Democrat. Virginia doesn't have registration by party.

R U OK? — Olivia is tracking the "Only Kevin" contingent in the House GOP, those who are pledging to vote for GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy for speaker, on consecutive ballots, no matter what. Some have been sporting "OK" buttons around the Capitol and even on cable TV.

Speaking of Kevin… There's a big profile in The New Yorker: "No Limits: What Kevin McCarthy will do to gain power," by Jonathan Blitzer

A message from National Retail Federation:

RESUME REVIEW COMES UP EMPTY — Rep.-Elect George Santos (R-N.Y.) might have some explaining to do. A deep dive by The New York Times into biographical info he touted on the campaign trail turned up more holes than a butterfly ballot. There's no evidence he worked at Citigroup or Goldman Sachs, as he has claimed, and officials at Baruch College couldn't find evidence of Santos graduating. Even his pet rescue charity is under scrutiny: The IRS doesn't have the charity registered. With reporting from Brazil to Albany and Staten Island, the New York Times lays it out: Who Is Rep.-Elect George Santos? His Résumé May Be Largely Fiction.

QUICK LINKS

John Fetterman's TikTok Whisperer, by Judith Newman at The New York Times

Sinema's switch was months in the making. Now it's a challenge for Democrats, by WaPo's Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Liz Goodwin

Manchin Says He Has 'No Intentions' of Ditching Democratic Party, from Jarrell Dillard at Bloomberg

How Latinos Voted in Key House Races, from Jennifer Medina and Ruth Igielnik at The New York Times

TRANSITIONS

Sandeep Prasanna is now a senior associate in the litigation department of Miller & Chevalier Chartered. He previously was investigative counsel for the House Jan. 6 committee.

Michawn Rich is joining Nevada Gov.-elect Joe Lombardo's office as director of policy. She previously was comms director for Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.).

Clay Schroers will serve as Rep.-elect Seth Magaziner's (D-R.I.) chief of staff. He is currently COS to Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.). Jess Vaughn will be Magaziner's deputy chief of staff. She most recently was a VP at Angerholzer Broz Consulting in D.C. More on Magaziner's team from The Boston Globe.

Jeff Bishop will serve as Rep.-elect Marc Molinaro's (R-N.Y.) chief of staff. Bishop most recently served as deputy chief and legislative director for Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.). Nick Joseph will serve as the deputy COS and legislative director for Molinaro. Joseph is a graduate of Liberty University who has served in the Dutchess County Legislature's office. More from WIVT/WBGH in Binghamton, N.Y.

Greta Gao is now senior counsel in the Office of Legislative Affairs at the Department of Justice. She most recently was chief oversight counsel for the House Oversight Committee.

Steve Gonzalez is joining the House Veterans' Affairs GOP as deputy staff director. He most recently was SVP of government relations at Career Education Colleges and Universities, and is a House Budget alum.

Naomie Pierre-Louis is now chief of staff for Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.). She most recently was comms director for her campaign and CEO and founder of Percipi Global.

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TODAY IN CONGRESS

The House is out.

The Senate convenes at 3 p.m. and will consider the nomination of Martin J. Gruenberg to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. One vote is expected at 5:30 p.m.

AROUND THE HILL

1 p.m. House Jan. 6 select committee business meeting to consider the select committee's final report on the Jan. 6 attack on the United States Capitol. (Cannon 390)

3:30 p.m. Senate Rules Committee hearing on U.S. Capitol Police oversight. U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger testifies. (Russell 301)

TRIVIA

FRIDAY'S WINNER: Ben Napier correctly answered that new members of the House are traditionally sworn in by the newly elected speaker of the House.

TODAY'S QUESTION from Ben Napier: In what year did the House of Representatives first start using its current chamber?

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.