| | | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus | | | With help from Andrew Desiderio DEMS' FILIBUSTER FIX FIZZLES — Senate Democrats' doomed effort to change the chamber's rules in order to pass their federal election reform and voting rights bill finally collapsed late Wednesday night with a 52-48 vote. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) joined all 50 Republicans in opposing the rules change that would have allowed the voting rights bill to advance with a simple majority. Mostly dead, slightly alive: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) pledged that his party will keep fighting for the legislation, which was a top priority of Democrats when they clinched the Senate majority and the White House in 2020. Ahead of the votes, but with the writing on the wall, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) compared the voting reforms to a scene in the movie 'Princess Bride,' when Miracle Max helps bring a character back to life that he describes as "mostly dead" but also "slightly alive," according to people familiar with her remarks. "Because of this fight, and the fact that each Senator had to show where they stand, we are closer to achieving our goal of passing vital voter protection legislation," Schumer said late Wednesday. How did we get here: Schumer gave an interview to our own Burgess and Marianne Wednesday and talked through his riskiest move as majority leader, the shifting dynamics within the Democratic Caucus and the case that built over the last year for taking this vote, even when failure was assured. "We sent our best emissary to talk to the Republicans. That was Joe Manchin. And we gave him months," Schumer said in an interview on Wednesday. "The epiphany that occurred on a rules change? He didn't even get any bites." More from the interview: Why Schumer picked a filibuster fight he couldn't win What's next: A bipartisan group of senators has emerged, including Sinema and Manchin, focused on discussing updates to the Electoral Count Act and other election-related proposals. As the midterm elections draw closer, the White House is urging Democrats to focus on their legislative victories: pandemic aid package and infrastructure law, which together represent $2.4 trillion in spending, instead of dwelling on what they couldn't get done. NO HOUSE FRIDAY — After House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) hinted Wednesday morning that Democrats may need to shift the House floor schedule as snow approaches the D.C. region, leadership scuttled plans to be in session Friday. | | | | JOIN NEXT FRIDAY TO HEAR FROM GOVERNORS ACROSS AMERICA : As we head into the third year of the pandemic, state governors are taking varying approaches to public health measures including vaccine and mask mandates. "The Fifty: America's Governors" is a series of live conversations featuring various governors on the unique challenges they face as they take the lead and command the national spotlight in historic ways. Learn what is working and what is not from the governors on the front lines, REGISTER HERE. | | | | | GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, January 20, where we hope the snowy owl of Union Station doesn't miss us during recess. BURNING QUESTIONS — The POLITICO Congress team is taking your questions again this week! Lost in the procedural weeds? Or just looking for some fun yearbook-worthy Senate (and House) superlatives? Ask away. DM us your queries and we'll be answering the questions over on Congress Minutes. QUESTIONS ABOUT CUELLAR — Federal agents descended Wednesday on the home of Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and his campaign headquarters, conducting what the FBI called "court-authorized law enforcement activity." The FBI action was first reported by Valarie Gonzales of The McAllen Monitor, who followed up with a tweet saying "by around 7:30 p.m., a group of agents loaded large bags, plastic bins, and a computer into a federal vehicle. Others appeared to be logging the items." Cuellar's office put out a statement saying that the moderate Democrat "will fully cooperate in any investigation. He is committed to ensuring that justice and the law are upheld." There is still a lot we don't know about what is going on here. DIS UNITY — When a bipartisan group of senators returned from a CODEL to Ukraine last weekend, they touted bringing a message of unity to Kyiv amid fears of a Russian invasion. Senators are now trying to turn that into legislative action — but it might already be too late, Andrew reports . Biden framed a Russian invasion of Ukraine as almost inevitable and the Senate is heading out for a week-long recess. That has left key senators scrambling to put together a bipartisan sanctions package that could help deter Moscow and gain traction in a tightly divided congress. Their unity when it comes to Ukraine belies the fact that Democrats and Republicans have completely different ideas about the best ways to achieve deterrence. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) said he's planning to confer during the recess with Republicans who have offered proposals similar to his conditional sanctions package, which Schumer wants to use as the vehicle for any Senate action on the matter. "If we could at least announce something and say that we're going to vote on it as soon as it comes back, that'd be great," Menendez said. But it's going to be an uphill battle to get Republicans on board, with many of them favoring immediate sanctions rather than punishments that are conditioned on a Russian invasion. | | | | A message from Better Medicare Alliance: Nearly half of all Medicare beneficiaries today choose Medicare Advantage, and they're ready to make their voices heard. In a new poll conducted by Morning Consult, 92% say that a candidate's support for Medicare Advantage is important to them when casting their vote, while 93% believe protecting Medicare Advantage should be a priority for the Biden administration. Medicare Advantage – it's working. | | | PROGRESS REPORT — The House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress is kicking off 2022 by probing key leaders on Capitol Hill on how their agencies are handling implementation of the 142 recommendations the panel has issued so far. Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton, Chief Administrative Officer Catherine Szpindor and House Clerk Cheryl L. Johnson will testify this morning on what their departments have already tackled and what further action is required. More than 60 percent of ModCom's recommendations from the 116th Congress have been implemented, with 15 nearing full implementation. Always trying to trailblaze, ModCom will stream the action on Twitch (plus YouTube). Written testimony from CAO released ahead of the hearing touts that the new CAO Coach program has hosted popular discussions including Coping with Emotional Casework, The Chief of Staff-District Director Relationship, De-Escalating Challenging Situations in a Congressional Office, and Parenting as a Staffer… all issues that your Huddle host hears about a lot! Blanton will also provide a thorough update on accessibility improvements around the Capitol campus. CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY — More than a dozen Democrats from the House Ways and Means Committee met virtually Wednesday morning with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on trade issues, House action on China-focused tech and competitiveness legislation and what Congress can do to take aim at inflation, according to people familiar with the meeting. The message from the administration to Congress: ending the microchip shortage is essential for stemming inflation. Raimondo told the group that the Biden administration's executive orders on microchips are a start, but that Congress is key to lasting solutions for the chip shortage that is driving rising car prices. She urged action on a House version of the Senate-passed United States Innovation and Competition Act and expressed confidence that discrepancies between the two proposals can be bridged in conference. President Joe Biden followed up Wednesday evening saying that American self-reliance on computer chips is a priority and pointed to the bill awaiting House action. Thursday's meeting followed several weeks of smaller meetings between Raimondo and at least two dozen different lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, including Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), House Science Committee Chair Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) and ranking member Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) and Ways and Means Chair Richard Neal (D-Mass.). | | | Keeping watch: Members of the House's Congressional Black Caucus took seats on the back wall of the Senate chamber as the long and fiery debate on election reform and voting rights legislation unfolded. John Lewis's successor, Rep. Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Marc Veasy (D-Texas) and others looked on. Schumer stopped by and gave a two-handed wave and other Democrats stopped by to shake hands, fist bump and welcome the House group. After an emotional speech from Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), he scooted behind the short barrier that separates the benches from the chamber and bear-hugged the CBC members. Staffers flocked to the Senate chamber throughout Wednesday to watch the long and fiery debate on election reform and voting rights legislation, filling more seats in the corner staffer's gallery overlooking the floor during most other points since the onset of the pandemic. All eyes on Manchin: Throughout the day and night, most Senate Democrats sat at their desks to watch the debate, filtering in and out of the cloakroom. Sinema and Manchin sat and listened to parts of the back and forth. The Republican side was more sparsely populated. But when Manchin stood to speak, the GOP ranks swelled to at least 22. More than two dozen staffers looked on from the balcony, and those with floor privileges lined the back walls of the chamber on both sides of the aisle. Senators from both parties put aside their phones and notepads to give their full attention to the West Virginian. The Democrats' defector was greeted warmly by colleagues after his speech, first Angus King (I-Maine), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and a hearty handshake from Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). | | | Baby watch… Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and his wife Sofia welcomed a baby boy, Christian Adam Kinzinger, to the world. Dad posted normal pics plus this reel featuring both the baby and Vanilla Ice. Hoot hoot… Have you spotted the snowy owl that has been camping out at Union Station? Has a colleague become obsessed? Are you borrowing binoculars? Can we let it loose in the Capitol to hunt the mice? Send us your pics. | | | | BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we've got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don't miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now. | | | | | QUICK LINKS 'Rise in violent rhetoric': Lawmakers in both parties report spike in death threats, from Jim Saksa at CQ Roll Call McCarthy raises $9.5M at major Washington fundraiser, from Alex Isedstadt SCOTUS seems open to Cruz case but passes on bigger bite at campaign finance law, from Josh Gerstein and Zach Montellaro TRANSITIONS Callie Eideberg joined the Senate Agriculture Committee as senior professional staff, overseeing conservation, forestry and climate policy for Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.). She was previously at the Environmental Defense Fund and USDA. Shannon Hines is joining Textron as senior vice president for government affairs and Washington operations. She was most recently GOP staff director on the Senate Appropriations Committee. TODAY IN CONGRESS The House convenes at 9 a.m. The Senate convenes at 11 a.m. with a vote at noon. AROUND THE HILL 10:45 a.m. Pelosi will hold her weekly press conference (Rayburn Room) 11 a.m. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), GOP Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), and other House GOP members hold a press conference on Biden's first year in office (Front Steps). | | | | A message from Better Medicare Alliance:   | | | | | |
WEDNESDAY'S WINNER: Mike Hershey correctly answered that John F. Kennedy's Convair 240 aircraft was named after his daughter, Caroline. Mike got to see the plane on an unrelated trip to the Smithsonian support center in Suitland, Maryland when he was a Hill staffer.
TODAY'S QUESTION from Mike: Following ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1788, what state was first in electing their two United States Senators? And as an added bonus, who were they? 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 Better Medicare Alliance: Leaders in Washington face tough choices today, but protecting seniors' Medicare Advantage coverage? That's an easy call. According to a new poll conducted by Morning Consult, 9 out of 10 seniors are satisfied with their Medicare Advantage, and 88% would oppose efforts to cut the program.
What's more, 76% of beneficiaries would be less likely to vote for a lawmaker who supported cuts to Medicare Advantage. 29.5 million Americans are projected to enroll in Medicare Advantage in 2022 alone, and they're ready to stand up for the health coverage they choose and enjoy. Read more.
Medicare Advantage – it's working. | | |
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