News : Can Republicans coalesce around McCarthy's debt deal?

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Can Republicans coalesce around McCarthy's debt deal?

Apr 20, 2023

By Katherine Tully-McManus and Daniella Diaz

With an assist from Sarah Ferris and Jordain Carney

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is pictured in conversation.

With a vote teed up for next week on addressing the debt limit and his conference largely united, this is a moment of victory for Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). | Francis Chung/POLITICO

FEEL GOOD, KNEW THAT I WOULD — House Republicans are confident that they’ll have the votes to pass Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s debt limit plan next week. But the long-term view is much murkier.

Just hours after the text of the bill was made public on Wednesday, there was widespread belief among Republicans that their slim majority would coalesce around the legislative framework to raise the nation's debt limit by $1.5 trillion for one year, along with $130 billion in cuts to federal spending.

“I feel good,” Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) said Wednesday afternoon. "We think it pulls enough money out of the system to help get inflation under control," and some "other cool things" around energy production.

In a fractious Republican Conference, it was a long slog to get to this point.

“There's been a lot of listening,” Republican Study Committee Chair Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) told Huddle.

"Probably no less than 10 of the so called Five family meetings, where it's just been the five of us, from the leadership of the Republican Study Committee, the House Freedom Caucus, Main Street , Problem Solvers, and [The Republican Governance Group], along with members of leadership, and then we've had a broader group where we've had other influencers in the conference attend.”

Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Wis.) has made endless calls and other members of leadership have invited GOP lawmakers for private conversations about the proposal, starting in the earliest days of the new Congress. In some cases, the conversations were an extension of talks during the long and contentious speakership race.

Leaders have locked up votes from allies and antagonists alike.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), a frequent thorn in leadership’s side, said he was feeling good about the proposal on Wednesday, but wasn’t locked in the “yea” column yet. But he credited leadership for that listening.

"The leadership just picked up the House Freedom Caucus plan and helped us convert it into the legislative text," he said.

Reading period: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) wouldn’t say that there are 218 votes for the proposal, but stressed that “all elements” of the GOP Conference were “heavily involved over the last few months in putting this package together.”

“We've been talking to our members for a long time, but people want to see the text, as they should,” he told reporters. “And so they'll have ample opportunity to read the bill and we’ll vote on it next week.”

"I don't think the cement is hardened around 218 votes for this plan yet," said Gaetz.

One “nay” vote, per Olivia, could be Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.).

Some members who spoke to POLITICO pointed out specific provisions they are not in favor of, but said they’ll still be voting in favor. That’s in part due to a perception that this is just an opening volley with extensive changes and maneuvering still ahead.

With a vote teed up for next week and his conference largely united, this is a moment of victory for McCarthy (R-Calif.). But some Republicans are already wondering what happens when some parts of the GOP-pleasing package have to be dismantled by a Democratic Senate and White House.

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GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, April 20, where your Huddle hosts hope to try the Dunkin Longworth breakfast tacos sometime soon.

LET ME BE BRIEF(ED) — House lawmakers emerged from a classified briefing on leaked sensitive Pentagon documents with largely the same reaction their Senate counterparts had earlier Wednesday: They didn’t learn much new and see the briefing as the first-step in a long process.

“I did not discern any more information,” Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, told reporters, adding that lawmakers “still need answers to a whole slew of questions before I can really answer” whether everything possible is being done to mitigate the impacts of the leak.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas) agreed he had “not really” learned anything new from the Wednesday briefing with intelligence and defense officials.

“The issues are primarily focused on how the hell did this happen,” he told POLITICO. “This is kind of like [Edward] Snowden, but without the ideology, because he was an IT guy.”

FLORIDA DAM BREAKING FOR TRUMP? — One Florida man is having a good week in Washington, another is not. Former President Donald Trump is racking up the endorsements in the House, particularly among fellow Florida Republicans. GOP Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Carlos Gimenez, Vern Buchanan, Brian Mast and Greg Steube have all backed Trump for president this week.

Eric Cortelessa at Time Magazine reported that Bilirakis and Gimenez will join other Trump backers at the former president’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach tonight, along with Floridiaian GOP Reps. Gaetz, Anna Paulina Luna and Cory Mills.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, who hasn’t formally announced a White House run, was in Washington this week but came away with just one endorsement from the Florida House delegation: first term GOP Rep. Laurel Lee.

FIRST IN HUDDLE: OCEAN STATE ENDORSEMENT — The campaign arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus is getting involved in the crowded race to replace retiring Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), throwing their support behind Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, who would be the first Afro-Latino to serve in the seat if elected. The move is the first endorsement made under new CHC BOLD PAC chair Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.).

Matos may still have her work cut out for her: There are 13 other candidates in the primary race for Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District.

BASS IS BACK — Los Angeles City Mayor Karen Bass returned back to her old stomping grounds of the House floor Wednesday, where she was greeted with lots of excited questions from her former colleagues about why she was visiting while answering questions from reporters.

“I did my first State of the City the other day. So that was nice,” she said happily.

Hill reporters got their chance to talk to her too – including Nicholas, who asked her if she had any comment on the calls for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to resign. “No, I just hope that she gets better soon. And obviously we need her back here so we can get those judges going. So hopefully she'll be back with us.” Asked if California Gov. Gavin Newsom should stick to his promise to appoint a Black woman if a vacancy occurred, she said: “that’s what he said he pledged.” But she’s happy in her new job: “I’m 130 days in. So far it’s been great.”

“WILDLY UNDERWHELMING” — That’s what House Administration Committee Chair Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) called the report on the massive DC Health Link data breach by the third-party cybersecurity firm Mandiant. Lawmakers’ anger was on display at the contentious hearing on Wednesday, where members did not find much satisfaction in answers from the executive director of the operator of the DC Health Link system. POLITICO’s Maggie Miller hit some highlights (maybe lowlights?):

A “misconfigured server” involved in the breach was operating since 2018 and was a vulnerability since then.
House Administration Committee oversight subcommittee Chair Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) said the breach left the congressional community “in shock,” and that “it’s unacceptable that over a month later, we still don’t have answers and continue to be left in the dark.”
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), chair of the House Oversight Committee’s cyber panel, called for those involved to be fired, while members of both committees questioned why the House continues to use DC Health Link.

Speaking of bad data practices… CFPB Says Staffer Sent 250,000 Consumers’ Data to Personal Account, from Andrew Ackerman at The Wall Street Journal

GREEN V. GREENE — After Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) called Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas a “liar” and accused Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), without evidence, of an affair with a Chinese operative, House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.) barred the Georgia Republican from further participation at the Wednesday hearing.

“It’s pretty clear that the rules state you can’t impugn someone’s character. Identifying or calling someone a liar is unacceptable in this committee and I make the ruling that we strike those words,” said Green, a Tennessee Republican. It’s hard to convey how seldom this is used by any member against their own party. Matt Berg really paints the picture of a hearing going off the rails.

JUDICIARY ADVANCES BORDER BILL — The House Judiciary committee advanced its border bill out of committee in a 23-15 vote, with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) voting no with Democrats. The House Committee on Homeland Security is expected to mark up its piece of the GOP’s border bill next week.

Meanwhile, another Mayorkas meeting: House GOP plows ahead on risky immigration plan, from Jordain

HUDDLE HOTDISH

This time with feeling… First-term Rep. Aaron Bean’s (R-Fla.) dramatic flair while presiding over the House isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

Siri isn’t from The South…“Me and Siri are in a constant battle,” Rep. Trent Kelly (R-Miss.) said while on the move through the Rayburn basement. The Mississippi Republican, with his hearty southern accent, is fighting on the front lines of the AI revolution.

QUICK LINKS

‘King of Asphalt’ Bud Shuster dies at age 91, from Jacqueline Toth at CQ Roll Call

Kyrsten Sinema, Joe Manchin Fail to Attract Small Donors for Potential Re-Election Campaigns, from Julie Bykowicz and Anthony DeBarros at The Wall Street Journal

For Progressive Democrats, New Momentum Clashes With Old Debates, from Jazmine Ulloa and Lisa Lerer at the New York Times

Exoneree featured in Netflix’s ‘The Innocence Files’ launches campaign for Congress, from Shania Shelton at CNN

The McCain Institute will convene its 10th annual Sedona Forum on May 5-6, featuring lawmakers, journalists, military leaders, business executives, and more. This year’s theme, “Indispensable Power,” will examine the diplomatic, military, and economic means employed to protect democracy, human rights, and the global competitive edge. Established by Senator John McCain, the Sedona Forum is held each spring in the red rock country of Sedona, Arizona, to advance the mission of the McCain Institute – fighting for democracy, human dignity, and security. Visit TheSedonaForum.org to register for the livestream today.

TRANSITIONS

Blake Nolan just started as Legislative Assistant for Congressman Mike Ezell. He was previously a Strategy and Transactions Consultant at Ernst & Young.

TODAY IN CONGRESS

The House convenes at 9 a.m. with final votes for the week at 10 a.m.

The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. with two votes at 11:15 a.m. and another vote at 1:15 p.m.

AROUND THE HILL

9 a.m. Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi and others will have a press conference to introduce the Puerto Rico Status Act. (House Triangle)

10 a.m. House Appropriations Transportation-HUD Subcommittee hearing on the fiscal 2024 budget request for the Transportation Department. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg testifies. (2359 Rayburn)

10 a.m. Senate HELP Committee hearing on Julie Su’s nomination to be the secretary of Labor. (430 Dirksen)

10:30 a.m. U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum's Days of Remembrance commemoration. (Emancipation Hall)

TRIVIA

WEDNESDAY’S WINNER: Tim Arnade correctly answered that Sen. John Tower (R-Texas) became the first cabinet nominee of a newly elected president to be rejected from serving. Tower was President George H.W. Bush’s nominee to be secretary of Defense and was rejected on a 47-53 vote.

TODAY’S QUESTION: This June will mark the 10th Anniversary of the passing of the last World War II veteran to serve in the Senate. Who was he?

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 and Daniella on Twitter: @ktullymcmanus and @DaniellaMicaela