| | | | |  | | By Daniella Diaz and Katherine Tully-McManus | Presented by Sallie Mae® | With an assist from Anthony Adragna | 
Democrats are feeling Sen. Dianne Feinstein's absence, who has been home in California recovering from shingles. It's unclear when, or if, she'll return to Washington. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | DEMOCRATS’ FEINSTEIN PROBLEM — It’s unclear when Sen. Dianne Feinstein could return to Washington. And Democratic leadership is finally acknowledging that. Christopher Cadelago, Jennifer Haberkorn and Katherine broke news last night that sources who have visited with Feinstein (D-Calif.) in recent weeks or been briefed on her status say her March shingles diagnosis appears to have taken a heavy toll on her. Other confidants underscored that they are still hopeful she could serve out the nearly two years that remain in her term. But neither of those people, who addressed the sensitive matter on condition of anonymity, indicated they were confident she would be able to do so from Washington. This comes as the Senate is facing a numbers problem – with Feinstein out and not able to vote on the Judiciary committee, Democrats are having a difficult time getting judicial nominations through committee and to the Senate floor. But everything changed Wednesday night when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) spokesperson said in a statement: “Per Sen. Feinstein’s wishes, Majority Leader Schumer will ask the Senate next week to allow another Democratic Senator to temporarily serve on the Judiciary Committee.” It’s become a tricky situation for a senator who serves on coveted committees – not only Judiciary but the Select Committee on Intelligence, Committee on Appropriations and Committee on Rules and Administration. While Schumer said Wednesday they plan to have someone serve in place of Feinstein on Judiciary, Chairman Dick Durbin’s (D-Ill.) spokesperson didn’t acknowledge her statement. “Sen. Durbin wishes Sen. Feinstein well as she continues to recover. And he looks forward to continuing the important work of moving judicial nominees through the Committee when the Senate reconvenes,” said Emily Hampsten. One hiccup: To replace Feinstein, Democrats would need to pass a resolution on the Senate floor – and would need Republican votes to get it across the finish line. But Republicans have been clear they want to block President Joe Biden’s judicial nominations, so it remains to be seen how willing they’ll be to help Democrats fill Feinstein’s committee seat. No Republicans have spoken out about this issue so far. Meanwhile: Some House Democrats are doing the quiet part out loud — calling on Feinstein to resign in the wake of the news from POLITICO. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who serves as co-chair of Rep. Barbara Lee’s (D-Calif.) 2024 Senate campaign to replace Feinstein, said the current California senator should resign because “it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties.” And quote-tweeting Khanna, Rep. Dean Phillips (D- Minn.) agreed with Khanna, saying of Feinstein that it “is now a dereliction of duty to remain in the Senate and a dereliction of duty for those who agree to remain quiet.” The other side: Some female lawmakers, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), are siding with Feinstein and calling out folks who are calling for her to resign. Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.) tweeted for Feinstein to get well soon and added: “When women age or get sick, the men are quick to push them aside. When men age or get sick, they get a promotion.” And Pelosi told reporters, “She deserves the respect to get well and be back on duty and it’s interesting to me, I don’t know what political agendas are at work, that are going after Sen. Feinstein in that way.” Reality check: Replacing Feinstein on Judiciary would solve one numbers problem (if Democrats are able to get resolution passed), but the reality on the floor is a different matter. A senator who’s unlikely to come back to Washington anytime soon still leaves Dems, who have a 51-49 majority with full attendance, in a tough spot.
| | A message from Sallie Mae®: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently confirmed college financial aid offer letters are often unclear and confusing, leaving too many families in the dark about the true cost of college and their eligibility for aid. Establishing a standardized format and content for financial aid offer letters would be a good step toward providing clarity and transparency. Learn how Sallie Mae helps families navigate financing higher education. | | | GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, April 13, where we’re noticing how smiley Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) was in Kyiv. Clarification: Wednesday’s newsletter was updated to include additional detail in a quote from Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas) on his meeting with Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.). |  Country singer/songwriter Brad Paisley sang “Country Roads" with Sen. Joe Manchin during their visit to Ukraine Wednesday. | AP | FREEDOM WAS A HIGHWAY (IN UKRAINE) — One of these things is not like the others. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) were in Kyiv this week to meet with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Joining the senators for the Ukrainian CODEL Country singer/songwriter Brad Paisley. Why was he there? Paisley is an ambassador for United24, a fundraising campaign that will help build housing for displaced Ukrainians whose homes have been destroyed. Some of the royalties for his song “Same Here,” which features Zelenskyy, will be donated to the cause. Rolling Stone called Paisley's performance of that song, plus a Ukrainian folk song “impromptu,” but your Huddle host knows that in both showbiz and politics, optics are key so there was probably a lot of staffwork ahead of time. “A month or so ago I released a song that President Zelenskyy was kind enough to say some words at the end of the record,” Paisley told reporters during a press conference after his meeting with the Ukrainian president. “The song is called ‘Same here’ and it’s really about the ways that we are the same as human beings desiring to live in a free world. For me looking around this city and being here for the first time, I’m absolutely struck by the resilience of life, of the beautiful nature that this city is trying to thrive in the middle of this conflict and trying their best also to be as free as they can be in this hard time. I think as Americans it’s one of the most inspiring things I’ve ever seen. And I am absolutely honored to be here and to get to spend this time with our friends in Congress, as well as President Zelenskyy.” Senate sing-a-long: You’ve seen Manchin rule the Senate as a swing vote, but have you heard him sing? Paisley and Manchin sang “Country Roads” together in the streets of Kyiv.
| | | | GO INSIDE THE 2023 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is proud to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage, insider nuggets and unparalleled insights from the 2023 Global Conference, which will convene leaders in health, finance, politics, philanthropy and entertainment from April 30-May 3. This year’s theme, Advancing a Thriving World, will challenge and inspire attendees to lean into building an optimistic coalition capable of tackling the issues and inequities we collectively face. Don’t miss a thing — subscribe today for a front row seat. | | | | | MORE DOCS FALLOUT — Members, still away from Washington, are continuing to weigh in with deep concern over the leak of classified Pentagon documents that included sensitive information on the war in Ukraine. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, said his office is working to assess what is “still potentially at risk” through contact with the Defense Department and intelligence community. “In addition to what has been released publicly, we need to know what else may be compromised,” he said in a statement to POLITICO. “The Administration has taken swift action to tighten access to sensitive materials and stop further leaks. But the breach remains deeply concerning, and there is more work to be done to find the source of the problem and better protect classified information.” Speaking of the hot docs: Senators will have a classified briefing next Wednesday at 3 p.m. on the leaked documents, according to a Senate Democratic aide. DEMOCRATS FIGHT ABORTION PILL RULING — We’ve seen the back-and-forth this week between Democrats and Republicans play out on the abortion pill, with Democrats fighting tooth and nail to try to claw back the controversial ruling from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals suspending FDA approval of the abortion pill Mifepristone and Republicans praising the decision. In a win for advocates who support the pill, late Wednesday a federal appeals court agreed to maintain the availability of Mifepristone — but only under strict conditions that prohibit its use beyond seven weeks of pregnancy and bar its distribution by mail. Before the decision, Durbin announced his Judiciary Committee would hold a hearing in the next Senate work period to “examine the devastating fallout since the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade in June 2022” where a major focus will be the abortion pill debate. “Republican-led legislatures have passed abortion bans in more than a dozen states, and now, a single federal judge in Texas has sought to upend our federal drug approval process,” Durbin said in a statement Wednesday. “We cannot let our children inherit a nation that is less free and more dangerous than the one their parents grew up in.” RELATED WATCH: ‘An outrage’: Politicians sound off on abortion pill ruling WISCONSIN WATCH — Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin is the latest vulnerable Democratic lawmaker to announce they’re running for re-election as Democrats look to hold onto control of their slim Senate majority. Democrats face a challenging 2024 Senate map with 20 Democrats and three independents up for reelection. “I’m committed to making sure that working people, not just the big corporations and ultra-wealthy, have a fighter on their side. With so much at stake, from families struggling with rising costs to a ban on reproductive freedom, Wisconsinites need someone who can fight and win,” Baldwin said in a statement.
| | | | A message from Sallie Mae®:   | | | | | Workin’ on the railroad?… Caution tape was blocking off the Dirksen-Hart subway line on Wednesday, along with the tunnel and the boarding area. Good spot from Jordain. Tax Season Lovers, REJOICE… There’s a new staff association on Capitol Hill. The Trade and Tax Staff Association launched yesterday, with the goal of bringing together “trade and tax staffers of both parties together for networking and professional development events.” The group is led by Jordan Dickinson, deputy chief of staff for Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.), and Elle Collins, tax counsel on the Ways and Means majority staff. QUICK LINKS Dramatic realignment swings working-class districts toward GOP, from Stef W. Kight at Axios US Budget Deficit Widens to $1.1 Trillion in Fiscal Half Year, from Christopher Condon at Bloomberg NPR quits Twitter after being falsely labeled as 'state-affiliated media', from David Folkenflik at NPR Hakeem Jeffries’ ‘vague recollection’ of controversy surrounding his uncle undermined by college editorial defending him, from Andrew Kaczynski and Em Steck at CNN Media organizations sue for Capitol Hill surveillance tapes that McCarthy gave to Fox News, from Katelyn Polantz 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 Brianna Dapuzzo is now digital director for Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.). She previously was press secretary/digital director for Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-Fla.). TODAY IN CONGRESS The House convenes at 11 a.m. for a pro forma session. The Senate convenes at 8:45 a.m. for a pro forma session. AROUND THE HILL One of the last quiet days before Congress returns.
| | WEDNESDAY’S WINNER: Hunter Arnold correctly answered that Hannah Van Buren never became first lady. She passed away in 1819, nearly two decades before her husband was elected president. But she would have been the first first lady born a U.S. citizen. TODAY’S QUESTION: Who was Senate Judiciary Chairman when Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) first got a seat on the committee? 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 | | A message from Sallie Mae®: As a responsible private lender, Sallie Mae believes higher education should be more affordable and accessible, and students and families should understand the total cost of higher education before attending. A more transparent, standard financial aid offer letter will help students and families make more informed decisions about what school to attend and how to pay for it, and can ultimately help prevent overborrowing. Learn more about how Sallie Mae helps students and families responsibly plan and pay for higher education. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment