'Lessen the stupidity factor'

Presented by First Five Years Fund: A play-by-play preview of the day's congressional news

Jan 27, 2023 View in browser   By Katherine Tully-McManus Presented by First Five Years Fund With a hand from Jordain Carney WATCH YOUR STEP  — Lawmakers and staff arriving at the Capitol this morning will navigate around bike-rack style security fencing erected overnight as cities across the country brace for protests this weekend in response to footage of the death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tenn. Congressional party leadership has been briefed and Capitol Police officers are anticipating working extended shifts this weekend. Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) was on a mission Thursday to not drag votes late into the night. | Alex Brandon/AP Photo ROCKING AND ROLLING — The House gave themselves a round of applause Thursday night. It wasn't for passing a bill, but for getting partway through trying to pass a bill. Lawmakers stood and cheered near the end of a 24 amendment vote series that, much to nearly everyone's surprise, did not last late into the night. The House was cranking through two-minute votes on the nearly unlimited amendments under the "modified open rule." Gavel master: Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) was tapped to preside over the chamber for a shining moment of ruthless efficiency. He has a reputation as one of the all-star presiding officers and he wowed colleagues who haven't seen him in the chair since the last time the GOP held the House. "The chair as a point of personal privilege would like to thank his colleagues, the members of the House, for your splendid cooperation in this two-minute vote series. In this 24-vote series that would have, or used to take over five hours, we will have completed in a little over 90 minutes. Thank you for making the people's house work," he said, to cheers and a standing ovation (at least on the GOP side where your Huddle host had a view). Two minutes per vote is the super speedy version and forced most lawmakers to hang in the chamber instead of wandering – or talking to the press. "Good job in there," your Huddle host heard a member say to Womack as he stepped off the floor after the final vote of the night. It wasn't all cheers though. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) had a one-minute speech prepared for after votes, but because there were still dozens of amendments to debate he was told he'd have to wait at least two hours. Former House Rules Committee chairman Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) offered some keen analysis of the chamber's first foray back into open rules. "We are trying to open things up for everybody," he said, about the many, many amendments. "There were several people, or at least one, that only got 18 votes. So it also has a way to – over time – to lessen the stupidity factor." That remark from Sessions seemed aimed at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga.) whose amendment only got 14 yea votes. Greene's proposal would have barred President Joe Biden from selling oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The House returns this morning to get the job done. But first they'll vote on 28 more amendments. Low-stakes start: This return to open rules was on a messaging bill that has little chance of becoming law. A low-stakes case test. But the real measure of how the more freewheeling amendment process goes will be on major, must-pass legislation. Also, Democrats haven't pulled out all the stops yet. As they settle into the minority they could turn up the pressure on Republicans with strategic amendments that have a chance of winning GOP votes and altering key legislation in their favor.   A message from First Five Years Fund: Child care programs dramatically improve a child's opportunities for a better future while making sure parents can go to work and provide for their families. Yet, millions of families either lack access to quality child care or can't afford the care they can find. This has a devastating impact on children, families, and employers. The 118th Congress has an essential role to play in meeting families' needs and helping the economy grow. Learn more here.   GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Friday, Jan. 27, where we'll accept a standing ovation for getting through the first week this year with both chambers in session. HUDDLE'S WEEKLY MOST CLICKED: Rebranding rift guts Blue Dog Dem ranks, from Ally Mutnick and Sarah Ferris. Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) trying to make friends on Capitol Hill. | Francis Chung/POLITICO NO FRIENDS, NO ENEMIES  — Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), best known for lying extensively about his identity and life, has been relishing the spotlight but that hasn't helped him forge bonds within the House GOP Conference, Olivia reports. Sure, he's palled around a bit with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and even been on air with him, but in Gaetz's words: "We take all sinners on my row." Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) said there's one thing members like even less than being criticized themselves: "They really don't like answering questions about what somebody else has done." His prediction on Santos's friend-making future? "People are gonna avoid him." A fellow Republican freshman from New York, Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), didn't mince words: "There's really nothing to speak about. He's a totally untrustworthy individual who has broken the public's trust … He's become an embarrassment. He's become a joke." Santos is looking on the bright side. "I'm not gonna say they're all my friends … I have no enemies at least," he told Olivia. Speaking of Santos… Both Republicans and Democrats in New York are reviewing their rosters and putting together potential candidates to run for Santos' Nassau County-based seat in 2024 (or sooner). No one is counting on Santos giving up the seat, but they're not counting it out either. Sarah and Ally dig into the future of the Long Island district, why Democrats are optimistic and who the Republicans waiting in the wings could be. Related: Is George Santos Now Trying to Hide His Spotify? by The Daily Beast's Ursula Perano; Selfies, karaoke and Chick-fil-A: Rep. George Santos is reveling in the spotlight despite investigations, from Scott Wong and Kate Santaliz at NBC   JOIN POLITICO ON 2/9 TO HEAR FROM AMERICA'S GOVERNORS: In a divided Congress, more legislative and policy enforcement will shift to the states, meaning governors will take a leading role in setting the agenda for the nation. Join POLITICO on Thursday, Feb. 9 at World Wide Technology's D.C. Innovation Center for The Fifty: America's Governors, where we will examine where innovations are taking shape and new regulatory red lines, the future of reproductive health, and how climate change is being addressed across a series of one-on-one interviews. REGISTER HERE.     MARK YOUR CALENDARS — The Oversight Committee is ramping up its work: A committee aide told POLITICO that the panel will hold a hearing on Feb. 8 related to Twitter and the handling of the 2020 New York Post's Hunter Biden story. (The hearing is expected to be formally noticed one week out.) Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) previously invited three former Twitter employees, with the aide adding that they "expect" them to testify. Before that the panel will have its organizational meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 31. HUDDLE HOTDISH See you in court… Or, on the court. Freshman Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) played hoops with Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and fellow freshman Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.). TBD if the Capitol Hill newcomers will follow Cruz's lead and come to votes in their gym shorts. A welcome gift… Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) is starting off with a bang. He's been handing out 40mm grenades (inert, an accompanying letter clarifies) to his new colleagues. Pen and paper… Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) has a printed out copy of that viral tweet on pen preferences. And he's got strong ones.   A message from First Five Years Fund:   QUICK LINKS  How classified documents became a schoolgirl's show-and-tell, by Calvin Woodward at The AP Slotkin meets with Stabenow as she mulls Senate bid, from Julie Tsirkin at NBC House Democrats' new leader Jeffries vows not to 'go off the cliff' on debt ceiling, from Steve Inskeep and Simone Popperl at NPR TRANSITIONS  Max Ernst is joining Rep. Katie Porter's (D-Calif.) office as deputy chief of staff and legislative director. He previously was legislative director for Rep. Nikema Williams (D-Ga.) and is an Abby Finkenauer and Steny Hoyer alum. Former Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) is joining a political nonprofit that promotes the natural gas industry, Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future, Cleveland.com reports. Avery Mulligan joined the Biden administration as senior adviser for public affairs at CISA. She most recently was press secretary for Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.). TODAY IN CONGRESS The House convenes at 9:00 a.m. with votes expected to begin at 10:30 a.m. The Senate is out.   DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don't miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS– DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID.     AROUND THE HILL 9 a.m. Reps. Claudia Tenney (D-N.Y.) and Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) hold a press conference on protests in Iran. (House Triangle) 10 a.m. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) holds a press conference on Azerbaijan's blockade of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) and the formation of the Save Karabakh Coalition. (House Triangle) 10 a.m. Gottheimer and others hold a press conference to announce a new bipartisan Holocaust education bill and recognize Holocaust Remembrance Day. (Studio A) TRIVIA TUESDAY'S WINNER: Damon Porter correctly answered that in 1869, John W. Menard became the first black man to address a session of the House in his contested election case. TODAY'S QUESTION from Damon: Which majority leader instructed the sergeant at arms to issue warrants of arrest for absent senators to break a filibuster (within the last ~50 years)? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answers to ktm@politico.com. GET HUDDLEemailed to your phone each morning. Follow Katherine on Twitter @ktullymcmanus   A message from First Five Years Fund: Most parents with young children need child care in order to work, but more than half of families with young children live in child care deserts, where parents can wait months, if not years, for an available spot to open. Even where child care is available, it's often unaffordable. Since 1990, child care costs have risen 214% - twice as fast as other major expenses like housing and groceries. As a result too many families are forced to choose between jobs or caring for their kids. A post-election poll by First Five Years Fund found that voters and small business owners across the political spectrum want Congress to take action. By prioritizing policies that bring high-quality, affordable child care to more families, the 118th Congress can support working parents, strengthen the economy, and dramatically improve a child's opportunities for a better future. Learn more here.     Follow us

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