A play-by-play preview of the day's congressional news
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With an assist from Sarah Ferris
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) departs a vote at the U.S. Capitol July 11, 2022. (Francis Chung/E&E News/POLITICO) | Francis Chung / POLITICO
OOPS, HE DID IT AGAIN — No one can string along his Democratic colleagues quite like Sen. Joe Manchin.
The centrist West Virginia Democrat single-handedly tanked his party’s pared down proposals for new spending to combat climate change and tax increases for large corporations and wealthy individuals, both key elements of the Democrats’ agenda that they hoped to accomplish before the midterms.
The revelation shattered the fragile scaffolding of a larger deal that was months in the making between Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who have been in one-on-one negotiations.
“Sen. Manchin believes it’s time for leaders to put political agendas aside, reevaluate and adjust to the economic realities the country faces to avoid taking steps that add fuel to the inflation fire,” said Sam Runyon, a spokesperson for Manchin.
Will he (or won’t he): Manchin said “unequivocally” in a meeting with Schumer that he will only back provisions targeted at lowering prescription drug costs for seniors and a two-year extension of subsidies for health insurance premiums for a party-line package under special rules to circumvent the filibuster.
Democrats could take that deal, despite it falling far short of what they set out to accomplish. They are hoping to head off the large health insurance premium increases that are set to go into effect for Americans this fall. And the drug pricing provisions could at least give them one long-awaited victory.
Progressives are fuming over Manchin’s refusal to engage on climate provisions.
“Rage keeps me from tears. Resolve keeps me from despair. We will not allow a future of climate disaster. I believe in the power of the Green New Deal. The power of young people. I am with you. We will not give up,” Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) tweeted.
The WaPo scoop: Manchin says he won’t support new climate spending or tax hikes on wealthy, from Tony Romm and Jeff Stein. And more from Burgess: Manchin rejects climate, tax elements of party-line Dem bill
RELATED: Here’s How Democrats’ Big Domestic Agenda Bill Has Shrunk, from Emily Cochrane at The New York Times
YOU’RE GONNA SUFFER, BUT YOU’RE GONNA BE HAPPY ABOUT IT — In the House, Dems will be reeling today. Jordain and Sarah explore how they’re tiring of the lower chamber treatment, having “to swallow whatever the Senate feeds them on two of the party’s biggest bills in order to pass either one.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus: “It’s very tough if the Senate finishes something and it comes over here. It takes away a lot of leverage. It makes it sort of a yes-no question, versus a ‘what more can we get?’ question. … There’s always the ‘no’ option. That is the ultimate leverage.” She told Sarah and Jordain that before Manchin threw down the hammer on the climate and tax provisions, but that development is likely to sour House Dems view of the Senate even further.
More from Sarah and Jordain: House Dems bristle over rubber-stamping Senate deals — again
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TGIF! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Friday, July 15, where the Manch-o-Meter is off the charts.
ROE, ROE, ROE VOTES— The House today will take the first of at least a half dozen votes in response to the Dobbs decision. Today: Codifying the right to an abortion (again) and protecting the right to travel across state lines to recieve abortion care.
Up next: Data privacy, protecting access to contraception and codifying the right to same-sex marriage.
Some Democrats want party leaders to do even more — and not messaging bills. As Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) stressed in a private caucus meeting this week, constituents back home want more of a strategy than simply telling people to come out and vote again. He urged Dems to try a more piecemeal approach — put a bill on the floor that protects abortion when a woman's life is in endangered. Then a bill that protects abortion for victims of rape and incest. And so on.
“I think if you believe that there's a path to codify Roe, by all means, let's do it. But there's not. So let's do what we can to save lives," Himes told us, when asked about the caucus discussion. His suburban Connecticut constituents, he said, want more of a floor fight.
“The plan of attack right now is not terribly good, at least in my district,” Himes said of Democrats’ tactics broadly.
Other senior Dems, however, have said they don't plan to go that direction. As Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters: "We're not going to negotiate a woman's right to choose."
From Sarah and Marianne: Dems’ base wants a simple Roe fight. It's getting complexity instead.
ASSAULT WEAPONS — The House Judiciary Committee will take up an assault weapons ban next week, that would bar the “import, sell, manufacture, or transfer” of semi-automatic rifles that have certain “military features,” including large or detachable magazines. It would not impact any weapons already in the hands of Americans. Pelosi discussed the move to act on the measure, sponsored by Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), with Democratic leadership Thursday night, according to sources familiar with the meeting. The move signals a shift, given that just weeks ago there was not enough support to move the measure. Cicilline has worked for months to winnow down “no” votes within the Democratic caucus, and while there is not a solid whip count, he’s made progress.
A message from Air Line Pilots Association Intl.:
Hearing a lot about a pilot shortage? Don’t believe it. Airlines are cutting service to improve profits and are blaming the cuts on a “pilot shortage.” They’ve even suggested more savings by reducing safety training for pilots. In reality, there are 1.5 certified pilots for every pilot job. Don’t let airlines put profits over passengers’ safety. Get the facts about pilot supply.
CHOMPING ON CHIPS — “Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has told senators to expect votes as soon as Tuesday to move forward on $52 billion in initial funding for chip factories, as well as a tax credit for ongoing semiconductor production, a person familiar with the plans said. Any movement would elate vulnerable Democrats who have pressed party leaders to break through a logjam on the bill, which lawmakers have spent nearly two years crafting,” write Andrew and Gavin Bade.
In the House, Pelosi and the Democratic leadership team discussed bringing up the standalone “CHIPS-plus” bill to the floor as soon as next week, Sarah reported last night. But what exactly would be included is still under discussion.
CAN’T START A FIRE WITHOUT A SPARTZ— “Victoria Spartz took the GOP mantle on aiding Kyiv back in the spring. Now, her fellow lawmakers worry she's undermining the effort,” write Andrew and Olivia.
“Inside the House GOP Conference, there’s a widespread fear that her posture is damaging U.S.-Ukraine relations at the worst possible time — and that she’s being played by forces that aim to weaken the Western alliance. GOP national-security hawks also worry that the MAGA wing of their party, where there’s already resistance to supporting Ukraine, will point to Spartz’s comments as justification.”
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In Battle to Beat Democratic Titans, a Lawyer in Sneakers Bets on Youth, from Nicholas Fandos at The New York Times
Covid emerges as a complication for a Democratic economic deal, from (our new Playbook editor) Mike DeBonis at The Washington Post
Lauren Boebert’ s Gun-Themed Restaurant, Shooters Grill, Closes, from Azi Paybarah at The New York Times
Senate leader Schumer met with Microsoft President Brad Smith to discuss tech antitrust bills, from Nihal Krishan at FedScoop
Meet the Senate's 78-year-old Instagram Influencer, from Noah Pransky at LX News in Brunswick, Maine
“Dear White Staffers” Speaks: Inside the Effort to Unionize Capitol Hill, from Pablo Manríquez at The New Republic
Laurel Sakai is now national director of public policy for Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She previously was deputy health policy director for the Senate HELP Committee, and is a Senate Veterans’ Affairs alum.
A message from Air Line Pilots Association Intl.:
The House convenes at 9 a.m.
THURSDAY’S WINNER:Lorraine Tong correctly answered that former President Teddy Roosevelt hated his official portrait and eventually burned it.
TODAY’S QUESTION: Who was the first woman member of the House with a military service background?
The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answers to [email protected]
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A message from Air Line Pilots Association Intl.:
Airlines have invented a “pilot shortage” to justify cost cutting service reductions to smaller communities across the country. Airline profits are being prioritized over passenger service. The fact is America has 1.5 certified pilots for every pilot job. That’s more than enough. But now airlines are recommending cuts to essential pilot safety training – just to put more pilots in service. This is the same training that has reduced airline fatalities by 99.8% since they were increased in 2010. There is no pilot shortage—don’t be fooled. Proper training and diligence will maintain air travel’s record as the safest mode of transportation. Get the facts about pilot supply.