One rules package to rule them all

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Jan 09, 2023 View in browser   By Katherine Tully-McManus Presented by the Network With an assist from Sarah Ferris  Now that there's a speaker, the House must set it's rules for the next two years. | Francis Chung/POLITICO NO RULES, JUST RIGHT — The House has a speaker, now it needs some rules. The chamber is set to vote tonight on a package of rules governing the House for the next two years. But for all the discussion of concessions Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) made on his long slog toward the gavel, most aren't in the rules package. WRITTEN IN INK — One major concession that is written into the package is to allow just one member of the House to introduce a motion to "vacate the chair," which could force a vote of no confidence on McCarthy's speakership. McCarthy had initially pledged to block the revival of the procedural tool, then relented to allow five members of the majority to inflict it. Now it is down to just one member, from either party. Also written into the rules is a 72-hour period required between bills being made public and when they are brought to the floor. That has been the case before — including under Democrats in the 117th Congress — but the requirement is easily waived. Conservatives came to the table last week with a lot of wins already stacked up in the rules package that was first released by GOP leadership more than a week ago. They had pushed for, and won, provisions that require bills to be about a single subject — part of an effort to cut down on sprawling, take-it-or-leave-it bills. But there aren't mechanisms for enforcement in the text. The Freedom Caucus also won a victory with a requirement that the House vote on any motions to waive germaneness for amendments, which would make attaching provisions dealing with different subjects than the underlying bill more difficult. GENTLEMEN'S HANDSHAKES — But most of the concessions aren't aren't up for a vote today. They are handshake agreements made as McCarthy desperately scrambled for votes last week. McCarthy has promised floor votes on an array of priority bills from the conservative flank of his party, including on border security, term limits for House members and a balanced budget amendment. The House Freedom Caucus and other key conservatives demanded more representation on key committees, and they walked away satisfied with an off-the-books commitment from McCarthy that they would get three seats on the House Rules Committee. The panel controls what legislation makes it to the House floor, as well as which amendments are made in order for debate. Reshaping the panel could have a significant impact on how legislation moves through Congress. Packing House Rules with conservatives could also accomplish another demand from the right flank of the GOP conference — to allow many more amendments to be offered on the House floor. They want to return to the days of "open rules," aka amendment free-for-alls, especially on spending bills. Speaking of spending: Promises have been made to try and cap discretionary spending at fiscal 2022 levels. Those are lower than the current enacted spending levels, which would lead to a potential 10 percent cut to defense spending and additional cuts to domestic spending, which is sure to stir trouble in the Senate. House Appropriations Committee ranking member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said the spending bill promise "kills the 2024 government funding process before it has even started, all but guaranteeing a shutdown." Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) likes the Rules package, calling it "open, fair and fiscally conservative," but she is considering withholding her vote because she doesn't have the details of what McCarthy's opponents were able to extract behind closed doors. "We don't know what they got, or didn't get. We haven't seen it. We don't have any idea what promises were made or what gentleman's handshakes were made," she told CBS' Face the Nation. She is especially concerned about cuts to defense spending. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) has also threatened to oppose the rules package. McCarthy can only lose four votes. Conservatives don't seem worried that some of their key demands are not inked into the House Rules package, after proving during the speaker votes that a small alliance can wield disproportionate power. "We will use the tools of the House to enforce the terms of the agreement," Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) told CNN's State of the Union on Sunday. Also on the agenda: The House will vote today on a bill from Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) that would roll back $80 billion in IRS funding that was part of the Inflation Reduction Act. This week: The House will consider a resolution to establish a new committee to investigate the alleged "weaponization of the FBI" against its political foes. The panel is modeled after the Church Committee, which investigated U.S. intelligence agencies in 1975. Republicans want the panel to have unbridled funding, in contrast to their criticism of the costs run up by the Jan. 6 select committee. Read the resolution here and Kyle's story: Proposed GOP select panel would be empowered to review 'ongoing criminal investigations' RELATED: Republicans Prepare New Rules, but Fixing Congress Isn't So Easy, from Carl Hulse at The New York Times A message from the Network: Help Wanted: Bold Leaders, Big Ideas! Across the country, voters rejected political extremes on both sides of the aisle in favor of leaders who touted bipartisan, common-sense solutions. But special interests push lawmakers into their corners, dividing them from what their constituents deserve. Enter the Network – an effort dedicated to encouraging lawmakers from all political backgrounds to work together on data-driven legislative solutions. Learn more about our bipartisan network solving America's greatest challenges at jointhenetwork.us!   GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Monday, Jan. 9, where we expect fewer fisticuffs. HUDDLE'S (LAST) WEEKLY MOST CLICKED: Teen Vogue cover story Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost on the Power of Gen Z, Family, and Organizing, by Rita Omokha and Kendall Bessent FAMILIAR SCENES IN BRASILIA — Thousands of supporters of Brazil's right-wing former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the National Congress and other government buildings in the capital Brasilia on Sunday in an attack that had undeniable parallels to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol by backers of former President Donald Trump. "The violent attack on the heart of the Brazilian government by right-wing extremists is a sad but familiar sight. Political violence is never the answer. We stand with the people of Brazil & in strong support of their democracy," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Sunday. "Two years since Jan. 6, Trump's legacy continues to poison our hemisphere," Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) tweeted, placing blame on Bolsonaro for inciting the attack. "Protecting democracy & holding malign actors to account is essential." As Kyle noted last night: Family members of Jair Bolsonaro were visiting the White House as guests of Ivanka Trump the week of Jan. 6. Eyes are on Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, the incoming U.S. ambassador to Brazil, who was confirmed on Dec. 14 and will be sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris this afternoon. Related reads: The attack on Brazil's seat of government resembles the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, from Chris Cameron at The New York Times … Biden administration condemns storming of government buildings in Brazil's capital, Olivia Olander and Nahal Toosi SO LONG, SASSE — Sen. Ben Sasse's (R-Neb.) retirement was made official at noon on Sunday. Nebraska's GOP Gov. Jim Pillen will appoint a replacement who can serve through 2024. That means that both Nebraska seats, Sasse's and Sen. Deb Fischer's, will be up for reelection. BORDER VISIT — Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) is hosting a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border on Tuesday with a bipartisan delegation of senators and an array of local officials. Who's on the trip: Sinema, Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.). The move comes after President Joe Biden visited the border and toured the border city of El Paso, Texas, this weekend in his first trip to the border as president. Lawmakers and advocates on both sides of the political aisle are pushing for action on the migration issue.   A message from the Network:   BACK FOR MORE — The House officers that rose to brief stardom last week, Clerk of the House Cheryl L. Johnson and House Chaplain Rev. Margaret Grun Kibben, are staying on for the 118th Congress, as is House Chief Administrative Officer Catherine Szpindor. PATCHING THINGS UP — Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla) and Mike Rogers (R-Al.) are trying to move past a very tense and potentially violent moment on the House floor last week in which Rogers was restrained from lunging at Gaetz as he opposed McCarthy's speakership. Gaetz tweeted Sunday that the pair have known each other for six years and have a "productive working relationship" that he expects to continue. "I don't think there should be any punishment or reprisal just because he had an animated moment," he said. "He has my forgiveness." "I regret that I briefly lost my temper on the House Floor Friday evening and appreciate Matt's kind understanding," Rogers tweeted in response. FAMILIAR FRAUDS? — Eyes are still on Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who is under investigation for fabricating much of his life story during his campaign. When asked if he should be removed from office, GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) told CBS' Face the Nation "Look, there's a lot of frauds in Congress," Gonzales said. "I mean, George Santos is the least of this country's worries." HUDDLE HOTDISH Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) and his beard exit a meeting with McCarthy last week. | Francis Chung/POLITICO Beard buzz… Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) told Sarah on Friday that Rep. Garrett Graves (R-La.) might shave his beard now that McCarthy has won the speaker's gavel. He recounted that he heard Graves said something like, "I'm going to shave this beard if McCarthy wins." "That is quite the beard," Westerman remarked about Graves' robust whiskers. Graves' team didn't get back to Huddle when we asked about his beard plans. QUICK LINKS  Jan. 6 was a security failure. Have the problems been fixed? from Crista Case Bryant at The Christian Science Monitor A voter fraud movement is growing in Louisiana. Election officials say it's baseless, from Sam Karlin at The Advocate No conflict in investigating the investigators investigating him, Perry says, from David Cohen TRANSITIONS  Will Layden is now vice president for government relations with the American Wood Council. He was previously the deputy staff director of the Natural Resources Committee under Rep. Bruce Westerman. Kelsey Smith is also joining the vice president's office as director of scheduling and advance. She had previously worked in the office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) since 2012, most recently as director of schedule and advance and deputy director of protocol. Beth Schoenbach has been named vice president of communications for Autos Drive America. She previously worked as communications director for former Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), the recently retired chair of the House Transportation Committee. Lora Snyder is the Democratic staff director for the House Natural Resources Committee. Snyder was staff director for the subcommittee on water, oceans and wildlife and later deputy staff director. TODAY IN CONGRESS The House will convene at 5 p.m. The Senate is out. AROUND THE HILL A quiet one until things get organized. TRIVIA FRIDAY'S WINNER: Elizabeth Bird correctly answered that the Republican elephant and the Democratic donkey were created by the famous 19th-century political cartoonist and satirist Thomas Nast. TODAY'S QUESTION: Six of the 14 women senators who served before 1980 were either elected or appointed in this circumstance. 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 the Network: Help Wanted: Bold Leaders, Big Ideas! Across the country, voters rejected political extremes on both sides of the aisle in favor of leaders who touted bipartisan, common-sense solutions. But the incentives in politics often push lawmakers into their corners and divide them from what their constituents want and need. To transform this broken system, a group of advocates who helped pass the most significant federal bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation in a generation created the Network – an effort dedicated to encouraging lawmakers from all political backgrounds to work together on data-driven legislative solutions. Through high-profile events, investments in lawmakers' districts, strategic giving and promoting evidence-based policy, the Network is putting people over partisanship. Learn more about our bipartisan network solving America's greatest challenges at jointhenetwork.us!     Follow us

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