Conservative consternation on stopgap spending

Presented by THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK: A play-by-play preview of the day's congressional news

Feb 15, 2022 View in browser   By Katherine Tully-McManus Presented by SPENDING SPATS — The Senate isn't staring down a shutdown just yet, but the deadline to clear a short term funding bill is at the end of the week. Six conservatives — Sens. Mike Lee (Utah), Roger Marshall (Kan.), Cynthia Lummis (Wyo.), Mike Braun (Ind.), Rand Paul (Ky.) and Ted Cruz (Texas) — say they won't vote for the continuing resolution unless they get a floor vote on an amendment to block federal government vaccine requirements. (The Senate has already considered — and rejected — a similar proposal.) Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) already threw a wrench in the short term spending plans, putting a hold on the bill until the Biden administration responds to her questions on a program operated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a division of the Health and Human Services Department. She wants to know if the funding could be used to buy crack pipes. Last week HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said no federal funding "will be used directly or through subsequent reimbursement of grantees to put pipes in safe smoking kits." SITTING, WAITING, WISHING— It could take an Easter miracle for Senate Democratic leaders to confirm President Joe Biden's Supreme Court pick before their rough deadline of Easter. A nominee this week "would be optimal, but not likely," said Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), chair of the Judiciary Committee, on Monday. "The president is still interviewing." (No word on if moving the goalpost to Orthodox Easter improves their chances.) Key factor: Some names on Biden's shortlist, like Judges J. Michelle Childs and Ketanji Brown Jackson, have already been through previous vetting by the committee or are in the middle of the process for a lower court position. Others, like California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, would require more time because she has not appeared before the Judiciary Committee before. The standard FBI background check also takes time. Burgess and Marianne game out the possible timeline: Easter SCOTUS confirmation in doubt as Biden deliberates Staffing up: So far, the Democrats on Judiciary have hired two additional staff counsels and more hires are expected, according to an aide familiar with the matter. Both sides of the aisle get funds to hire temporary staff for the confirmation process, usually lawyers. Some may be detailed from other Hill offices, others take leaves of absence from private firms to pitch in.   STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.     GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Tuesday, February 15, where half priced chocolate hearts will get us through the week. Right? Right? NEXT WEEK: HUDDLE TRIVIA LIVE! — On Feb. 23 at 8 p.m., the POLITICO Congress team behind Huddle is whipping up our first-ever virtual trivia night. Think you know everything about lawmakers and their craziest moments? Prove it to us -- because our reporters will be playing Alex Trebek and MC'ing their own themed rounds. (Think Burgess Everett on the Senate and Olivia Beavers on the GOP.) RSVP (by yourself or with a team) to Huddle. Registration is free. We'll send sign-up instructions. STEFANIK'S STRATEGY — House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) is leaning away from "mainstream media" and towards the conservative ecosystem where the GOP base is already watching. She's handpicking reporters and outlets to cover press calls, focusing on outlets like Newsmax and the Daily Caller. Olivia reports that one driving factor in this shift (remember when Stefanik was a GOP moderate with a centrist voting record?) is that far-right critics within the caucus didn't want her in the number three job to begin with and plan to press her to serve only one term. More on Stefanik's strategy from Olivia: Stefanik starts quieting her doubters as House GOP messaging chief IS TIME RUNNING OUT? — The window could be closing for Congress to strike a deal on bipartisan sanction against Russia before what could be an "imminent" invasion of Ukraine. Instead, key lawmakers and leadership are circulating language for a nonbinding "sense of the Senate" resolution that would warn the Kremlin of serious consequences if Russia launches an attack on Ukraine. The Senate is set to leave at the end of this week for a one-week recess. The House already left town and won't return until Feb. 28. Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J), made another sanctions offer to his GOP counterpart, Jim Risch (R-Idaho) on Monday.The offer "goes further in my Republican colleagues' direction," Menendez said. But Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) isn't hung up on a congressional solution: "The administration has the power under the law to impose every sanction they'd need to impose. So I wouldn't fixate too much on that at this point. Because they have the power to do it."   A message from THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK: Medicaid expansion means earlier cancer diagnoses and improved survival rates. But more than 2 million people — the majority of whom are people of color — are missing out on the lifesaving care they need because of hurdles to affordable, comprehensive health coverage in states that haven't expanded Medicaid. It's time for all Americans to have equitable access to care. Congress, close the coverage gap to remove hurdles to cancer care.   CALIFF CLEARS CLOTURE— But it was a close one. Dr. Robert Califf, who led the FDA once before, got bipartisan support (and opposition) for his nomination to once again lead the FDA. The tally on Monday was 49-45, with Republican yeas from Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.). Democratic caucus defectors were Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.). A final confirmation vote is expected on Califf today. QUICK LINKS  These companies stopped campaign donations to election objectors. Their lobbyists did not, from Emily Birnbaum, Megan Wilson and Hailey Fuchs Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez an Insider Now? From The New Yorker Inside the White House preparations for a Russian invasion, from The Washington Post TRANSITIONS  Chandler Shields has left Sen. Richard Shelby's (R-Ala.) office for a job at the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, where she will serve as Manager, Administration & Special Projects. Ilse Zuniga is joining the the Department of Health and Human Services as press secretary for principal engagement, following a run as press secretary to Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).   DON'T MISS CONGRESS MINUTES: Need to follow the action on Capitol Hill blow-by-blow? Check out Minutes, POLITICO's new platform that delivers the latest exclusives, twists and much more in real time. Get it on your desktop or download the POLITICO mobile app for iOS or Android. CHECK OUT CONGRESS MINUTES HERE.     TODAY IN CONGRESS The House convenes at 10 a.m. for a pro forma session. The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. with votes at noon. The chamber will recess from noon-2:15 p.m. for caucus lunches. AROUND THE HILL 2 p.m. Senate Republican and Senate Democratic leaders will hold separate media availabilities after caucus lunches. 2:15 p.m. The Senate Banking Committee meets to vote on Jerome Powell's nomination for a second term as Federal Reserve chair and Sarah Bloom Raskin to be on the board of governors (CVC 201).   A message from THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK:   TRIVIA MONDAY'S WINNER: Jennifer Goedke correctly answered that Alice Roosevelt Longworth was the daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt and in 1906 married Rep. Nicholas Longworth, who eventually became House Speaker. TODAY'S QUESTION from Jennifer: How many states have chosen to honor a woman with their state statutes in the U.S. Capitol and bonus: which ones? 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 AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK: Where you live shouldn't determine if you live. Increased access to health coverage through Medicaid expansion has resulted in earlier stage cancer diagnosis, improved access to timely treatment and survival rates, and reduced health disparities compared to those living with cancer in states that have refused to expand. It's time for all Americans to have equitable access to care. Congress, close the Medicaid coverage gap to remove hurdles to cancer care for more than 2 million people.     Follow us

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