| | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus | | | With an assist from Caitlin Emma, Daniella Diaz and Nick Niedzwiadek
|  House Appropriations Committee chair Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) is trying to rein in earmarks while still allowing some member-directed spending projects. | AP | EAR OUT FOR EARMARKS — The power of the purse isn’t a free-for-all. That’s the signal House Appropriations Chair Kay Granger (R-Texas) is sending with fresh guidance for members on earmarks this cycle. House Republicans are maintaining the cap on requests per member at 15. But but but… she includes Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) “federal nexus” language that emphasizes that there won’t be niche pet projects, only those with a direct tie to the federal government will be up for funding. Changes to watch, per Caitlin:
- House Republicans are capping the amount of federal spending that can be used for earmarks: one half of one percent of discretionary spending. Democrats set their limit at 1 percent in 2021.
- Blocking community project requests from the Labor-HHS-Education, Financial Services and Defense measures.
The panel’s ranking member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said she is “saddened” by the earmark ban for those three bills. Excluding those measures decreases “opportunities for members to help people in their districts and to meet urgent needs directly,” she said.
DeLauro would know: She’s also the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee that writes the Labor-HHS-Education bill. More than 1,300 projects were funded through that measure in the current fiscal year, including health centers and college programs. Hundreds of those earmarks were requested by Republicans, the Connecticut congresswoman pointed out. No statues statute: Projects that would create or fund memorials, museums and commemoratives are out. That means members can’t slap their name (or anyone else’s name) on a project in their district. House Republicans were somewhat divided over whether to allow earmarks at all under their control, so part of these rules and changes are to signal a tighter, more controlled process for doling out dollars to community based projects. DEMS BY A DOCK — House Democrats are deploying north of the Capitol tomorrow afternoon to the Baltimore waterfront where they will attend their yearly issues conference to discuss their priorities as a minority (and have plenty of bonding time). “It's going to be a continuation of all the good work we did in the last Congress that was so beautifully culminated in the State of the Union by the President,” Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) told your Huddle host. “And how we are going to move forward in this minority with incredible momentum and strength, implementing these bills, showing the American people that we are here for them.” President Joe Biden will stop by Wednesday evening to address the caucus – but we don’t expect any fireworks. However, there are several interesting events taking place over the next few days, including a closed-door session where Jordan Klapper of the Daily Show will interview Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.). This will be the second recent House Democratic retreat either inside or within spitting distance of a maritime museum. They aren’t seafarer obsessed, it's just primo waterfront real estate.
| | A message from the Association of American Railroads: When it comes to safety – 99.9% is not enough. While 99.9% of all hazmat shipments that move by rail reach their destination safely, we know a single incident can have significant impacts. That’s why America’s freight railroads will never stop working to improve safety and protect communities, workers and the environment. Learn more. | | | GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Wednesday, March 1, where not one earmark has been proposed honoring your Huddle host. A shame. TRUMP TANGLES GOP ENTITLEMENT TALK — “Donald Trump is driving a wedge through the GOP over one of American politics’ thorniest issues: the future of Medicare and Social Security. The former president’s attacks on potential GOP primary opponents, and his warning to party leaders to stay away from the popular entitlement programs in their push to cut spending, are cleaving Republicans at every level,” write Burgess and Caitlin this morning. TEST BALLOON — The Senate will take up Sen. Mike Braun’s (R-Ind.) Congressional Review Act resolution today that would roll back the Department of Labor’s rulemaking to allow fiduciaries to take environmental, social and governance — or ESG — factors into consideration when choosing retirement investments. House Republicans cleared their version on Tuesday with help from a single Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine. Biden has threatened to veto the measure but the Republican effort is still serving a purpose. One Republican told Sarah they see the ESG measure as a "test balloon" with Senate Democrats. Who is willing to force Biden to get out his veto pen? Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is already on board and Republicans have been courting Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and others. House Republicans are keeping an eye on if this CRA move, which only needs a simple majority in the Senate, could be replicated on other regulatory issues. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) launched an op-ed last night: Republicans Ought to Be All for ESG NO CHUY FOR CHICAGO — Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García won’t be mayor of Chicago. The Democrat fell short in his bid, trailing former Chicago public schools CEO Paul Vallas and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson in unofficial results Tuesday night. Vallas and Johnson will meet in an April 4 runoff since none of the candidates got more than 50 percent of the vote. TALK AMONGST YOURSELVES — Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) led a letter Tuesday with 13 other House Democrats to Biden saying “It is imperative that the next Architect of the Capitol be mindful of threats from both outside and inside the Capitol complex and enforce rules barring Members of Congress from carrying firearms." But long before Biden will have any say, a different set of 14 lawmakers will make major decisions about the Architect of the Capitol selection. The administration doesn’t just select a nominee and send it to the Senate for confirmation like a judge or cabinet pick. Filling the Architect of the Capitol role is a long and arduous process that could take months (or years.) A bicameral and bipartisan congressional commission must be assembled to recommend candidates to the president, and then the president chooses from that list. (Would a Dear Colleague have been more appropriate?) The group is made up of 14 lawmakers, including the speaker, the president pro tempore and the majority and minority leaders of both chambers. It also includes the chairs and ranking members of the House Administration and Senate Rules Committees, plus the Appropriations panels in both chambers.
| | | | JOIN POLITICO ON 3/1 TO DISCUSS AMERICAN PRIVACY LAWS: Americans have fewer privacy rights than Europeans, and companies continue to face a minefield of competing state and foreign legislation. There is strong bipartisan support for a federal privacy bill, but it has yet to materialize. Join POLITICO on 3/1 to discuss what it will take to get a federal privacy law on the books, potential designs for how this type of legislation could protect consumers and innovators, and more. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | MCCARTHY PRESSES PLAY — After much back-and-forth, Speaker Kevin McCarthy has greenlighted providing defendants in Jan. 6-related cases access to thousands of hours of internal Capitol security footage – just hours after he granted exclusive access to the 41,000 hours of internal Capitol film from the day of the riot to Fox News’ Tucker Carlson. More on the implications of that decision here from Kyle, Olivia and Sarah. McCarthy told reporters Tuesday that he ultimately envisions releasing nearly all of the Jan. 6 surveillance footage publicly, with exceptions for sensitive security information. "I think putting it out all to the American public, you can see the truth, see exactly what transpired that day and everybody can have the exact same,” access McCarthy said. “My intention is to release it to everyone." McCarthy dismissed questions about his decision to share the footage with Carlson, who has downplayed the Jan. 6 attack, describing it as a typical media exclusive. He noted that he did not consult with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) about his decision. Also: McCarthy and Jeffries were spotted meeting at the Capitol in McCarthy’s office midday on Tuesday. Neither’s office commented on the meeting. SU FOR LABOR SECRETARY — Burgess and Nicholas scooped that President Joe Biden announced plans to nominate Julie Su to be his next Labor secretary, moving swiftly to fill a coming vacancy within his cabinet. Su is currently the deputy Labor secretary and will be nominated to replace Marty Walsh, who is departing the administration to run the professional hockey players’ union. Su’s confirmation fight could be a tough one in the Senate; she was confirmed 50-47 to her slot in 2021 with no Republican support. Asian American members of Congress had pushed hard for Su to lead the Labor Department at the beginning of the Biden administration before the president picked Walsh, whose impending departure prompted the lawmakers to again lobby for Su. ROADTRIP — The Congressional Western Caucus, led by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) is hitting the road today and heading to Fort Worth, Texas for a Farm Bill Summit with House Agriculture Committee Chair GT Thompson (R-Pa.), Republican Study Committee Chair Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) and other lawmakers including Reps. Austin Scott (R-Ga.), Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Jim Baird (R-Ind.), Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.), John Duarte (R-Calif.), Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Marianette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), David Rouzer (R-N.C.), and David Valadao (R-Calif.). They’ll be there through the end of the week.
| | | | A message from the Association of American Railroads:   | | | TICK, TICK…BOOM — Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee got under the skin of Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) during a lengthy meeting Tuesday. When Democrats unleashed a series of proposed amendments (each of which was shot down by Republicans) and the 10 a.m. markup stretched past 4 p.m., Smith fumed. “Today has shown me, on a noncontroversial bill to hold fraudsters accountable, that the minority is more interested in politics than anything else,” Smith fumed as he closed proceedings. “I hope there are changes going forward … but if not, we are prepared to be less lenient on our side in honoring requests which are aimed at purely slowing down an agenda to help turn our country around.”
| | | ALIENS?... You might have noticed some people in all-white costumes around Capitol Hill this week. Well, they’re not the extraterrestrial visitors some have thought they are. All will be revealed later this morning, and keep an eye out for a story from Nicholas. BeyoncĂ© hits the floor… Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) will head to the House floor today to honor “the undisputed queen of pop and R&B: BeyoncĂ© Knowles Carter.” He’s a huge fan and will celebrate her latest Grammy wins and activism. “I’ll never forget the first time I saw Destiny’s Child perform live - it was life changing for me and for the way I experienced music,” Garcia will tell the House. Delicious disbursements… Resident foodie and House Disbursement Report fan Nicholas rounded up some tasty details from the Q4 reports, released yesterday. The Jan. 6 Committee was loyal to We the Pizza, Farmers and Distillers, and Insomnia Cookie (and large orders from Costco). Republicans still dominate spending on Chick-fil-A, but they had one lonely Democrat join them: Rep. Andre Carson's office spent $218.86 at the chicken chain. Freshman orientation late last year included a $1,523.57 order at Taco Bamba. It’s no surprise that Texans like Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas) and Colin Allred (D-Texas) also had big taco orders, Allred at a Dallas joint Taco Lingo and Cloud at El Paso Tacos and Tequila. QUICK LINKS ‘Gen Z isn’t waiting’: Maxwell Frost, Congress’s youngest member gets a bumpy introduction to Washington, from Abigail Tracy at Vanity Fair LA Consequential: Garcetti nom hits make or break moment, from Marianne and Chris Cadelago “USPS commits $1.2B to lay foundation for its mostly electric next-gen fleet” by Jory Heckman at Federal News Network “Eric Garcetti’s stalled nomination to ambassador’s post sees slight progress” by Nolan D. McCaskill at the LA Times “Democrats step up pressure on Biden to reverse Trump’s decision on space HQ” by Connor O’Brien and Lee Hudson at POLITICO TRANSITIONS Kent Talbert is now investigative counsel for the House Education and the Workforce Committee. He is a former senior adviser to the deputy Education secretary in the Trump administration. James Schindler is now Republican counsel handling energy and environmental issues for the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. He most recently was a legislative counsel for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)'s personal office and was a senior advisor at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in the Trump administration. Vidhya Jeyadev is now Press Secretary for the Ways and Means Democrats. She previously was deputy press secretary for former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).
| | | | DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS– DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID. | | | | | TODAY IN CONGRESS The House convenes at 9 a.m. for legislative business. The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. and will vote at 11:30 a.m. on confirmation of Margaret R. Guzman to be United States district judge for the District of Massachusetts and cloture on Colleen R. Lawless’ nomination to be United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois. The senate will vote again at 2:15 p.m. and 4 p.m. AROUND THE HILL 9:45 a.m. Cruz, Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) and other members of the Texas delegation will hold a press conference on the Bicentennial of the Texas Rangers. (House Triangle) 10 a.m. Jeffries holds his weekly press conference. (Studio A) 10 a.m. Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on the Department of Justice with testimony from Attorney General Merrick Garland. (Hart 216) 12:15 p.m. Schumer holds a press conference on the House Budget. (Senate Studio) 1:45 p.m. Jeffries, Clark, Aguilar and other House Democrats hold a press conference in Baltimore. 4 p.m. McCarthy and other House GOP members hold a press conference on the introduction of the "Parents’ Bill of Rights." (Rayburn Room)
| | | TUESDAY’S WINNER: Patrick Delaney correctly answered that in 1890, the Capitol gained electricity and electric fans were placed strategically in Capitol hallways, often blowing over blocks of ice to cool the air. TODAY’S QUESTION from Patrick: What standing House committee, which celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2020, conducts its work in a hearing room equipped with a balcony overlooking the Capitol and Independence Avenue? 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 Association of American Railroads: Freight railroads prioritize solutions-oriented actions to address the leading causes of accidents. Ongoing investments in improved track and equipment, rigorous operating and training protocols, and advanced inspection technologies have led to a 55% decline in hazmat accidents in the last decade. Railroads stand ready to work with government officials and safety experts to identify and implement proven steps to help prevent future accidents from happening.
Freight rail’s safety plan focuses on:
— Stopping accidents before they occur.
— Reducing the consequences of accidents that do occur.
— Providing training and other resources to local first responders.
— Protecting the health and safety of communities and the environment.
— Using lessons learned to drive continual improvement.
Learn more about freight rail’s commitment to hazmat safety. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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