The perilous path to a Ukraine-border deal

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Nov 02, 2023 View in browser   By Daniella Diaz and Jordain Carney Presented by With assists from POLITICO’s Congress team Several members of the House Freedom Caucus, including Chairman Scott Perry (R-Pa.), said they don’t like linking Ukraine funding and border provisions. | Getty Images TICK TOCK: The government will shut down in 15 days if Congress can’t pass a funding patch. TRYING TO MAKE SOME SENSE OF IT ALL House Speaker Mike Johnson said he plans to intertwine financial support for Ukraine with legislation that would toughen policies on the southern border. That is already getting very complicated, and very quickly. Critics to the right of him: We already know that the conservative hard-liners in the House Freedom Caucus are deeply skeptical of more Ukraine aid. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) explicitly told Johnson during a meeting with the ultra-conservative group that he wanted a list of ways the new speaker would “handcuff” the administration on additional money. Several members of the group, including Chairman Scott Perry (R-Pa.), told us Thursday that they don’t like linking Ukraine funding and border provisions, either. In their view, the Biden administration can’t be trusted to spend additional border dollars or properly implement any new immigration laws. “I’m not a fan of that,” said Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), who added that while his constituents want to secure the border, “this administration is not enforcing the law, so passing an additional policy or law that doesn’t ensure enforcement is almost a moot point.” Perry echoed that criticism while acknowledging he also has “issues with Ukraine funding in general.” Detractors to the left: Many Democrats we spoke to Thursday said they want to see exactly what a border package looks like before giving their opinion, but most of them slammed the idea of linking it with foreign aid. “I don’t know what I’ll end up doing until I see it, but I wish they wouldn’t do that,” Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.) told reporters. “I think that it’s really reckless when you talk about foreign aid to either Israel or Ukraine in the midst of wars.” Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) swatted aside a question about a possible linkage, dismissing it as “talking points that aren’t legislation.” Again, as we wrote Tuesday, the Democratic divide on border issues runs deep. Some members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, for instance, are up in arms about a bipartisan border package that has drawn support in the CHC ranks. Anything traded for Ukraine funding is likely to be only more objectionable. Stuck in the middle with a deal? But there are signs that the more pragmatic wings of both parties could come together and strike a deal that could squeeze through both chambers. Count House Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas), who favors Ukraine funding, among that group. “The Democrats really want Ukraine,” he said. “You have a good faction in my conference that want Ukraine, but that's our leverage to get border or otherwise we don't have any leverage at all. And to my conference, that’s the most important issue right now.” As we reported in Tuesday’s Huddle, Senate Republicans are crafting a package of potential border policy changes, which could include reviving the controversial “remain in Mexico” policy for asylum seekers. Two moderate Senate Democrats, Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), both said Thursday they are open to looking at what Republicans put on offer. “I think what works really well is if we get Israel and Ukraine funding going,” Tester said. “If there's border [funding] in it, we'll take a look at that. If there's disaster [funding] in it, we’ll look at that.” — Daniella Diaz and Jordain Carney, with assist from Nicholas Wu   A message from Electronic Payments Coalition: Don’t Buy What Mega-Retailers Are Selling About Durbin 2.0: Superstores like Walmart, Target, and Home Depot are pushing for legislation that's essentially corporate welfare at the expense of consumers. They're seeking new government mandates on credit card routing, which may appear harmless but would jeopardize YOUR data security and fraud protection, rewards for everyday purchases, and the convenience of using credit cards. Congress: reject the Durbin credit card interchange bill. Click HERE to get the facts.   GOOD EVENING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, Nov. 2, where your Huddle host is scouting for any leftover Halloween candy on Capitol Hill (let a gal know!). JOHNSON’S MEDIA STRATEGY SO FAR Johnson held his first news conference today — exactly one week after he got the gavel. The Louisiana Republican took questions from a variety of outlets — including ABC News, Fox News and NBC News. But the session departed from recent speakers’ practice in a couple of notable ways: He appeared alongside other members of House GOP leadership, rather than standing solo, and he didn’t take questions from print publications. Mind your Q&A's: So far the new speaker is taking a page from his predecessor’s playbook and reserving any one-on-one interviews for conservative-leaning outlets. He’s done five on-camera interviews with Fox networks — including one today on Fox Business with host Larry Kudlow — as well as one print interview with the Washington Examiner. It’s a bit of a pivot for Johnson, who had a reputation inside the Hill press corps as a chatty member who would frequently speak to reporters about a variety of issues. But so far as speaker, in-depth hallway chats are out. Your Huddle host asked Johnson’s office for further insight on his media strategy as he continues introducing himself to Americans and didn’t hear back. We’re always available for a chat, Mr. Speaker! — Daniella Diaz   A message from Electronic Payments Coalition:   THE DEMOCRATS WHO SUPPORTED SEPARATE ISRAEL AID The House passed a standalone $14.3 billion Israel bill, which is essentially dead on arrival in the Senate, but speaks to the urgency lawmakers have about getting help to its ally in the Middle East amid its war with Hamas. While the legislation passed mostly along party lines, there was a group of a dozen Democrats who joined in with Republicans to get the legislation passed, including outspoken Israel allies like Reps. Jared Moskowitz (Fla.), Lois Frankel (Fla.), Josh Gottheimer (N.J.), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.) and Jared Golden (Maine). The dozen also included Reps. Don Davis (N.C.), Greg Landsman (Ohio), Darren Soto (Fla.), Haley Stevens (Mich.), Juan Vargas (Calif.), and Frederica Wilson (Fla.). House Democratic leadership had urged a “no” vote on the legislation, and the White House had issued a veto threat. The House legislation’s inclusion of a pay-for cutting IRS funding, as well as its omission of humanitarian aid for Gaza, led most other Democrats to oppose it. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), a staunch Israel ally, said in a lengthy statement Thursday he wouldn’t be able to support the legislation: “I cannot support the terribly flawed, weak and dangerous bill Speaker Johnson and the Republicans have on the floor today.” No surprise here: Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.) and Thomas Massie (Ky.) were the only two Republicans who voted against the aid. Notable: The House passing this legislation sets up a showdown with the Senate, where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has made clear they are planning to pass legislation that would intertwine Ukraine and  Israel aid — and, as we noted above, potential border provisions, too. — Daniella Diaz and Nicholas Wu   GROWING IN THE GOLDEN STATE: POLITICO California is growing, reinforcing our role as the indispensable insider source for reporting on politics, policy and power. From the corridors of power in Sacramento and Los Angeles to the players and innovation hubs in Silicon Valley, we're your go-to for navigating the political landscape across the state. Exclusive scoops, essential daily newsletters, unmatched policy reporting and insights — POLITICO California is your key to unlocking Golden State politics. LEARN MORE.     HUDDLE HOTDISH In which Marjorie Taylor Greene calls Chip Roy "Colonel Sanders.” Rep. Mike Quigley was a caped crusader for transportation funding. Minnesota nice made it onto the House floor. Looks like the Capitol Fox is back.   PLAYBOOK IS GOING GLOBAL! We’re excited to introduce Global Playbook, POLITICO’s premier newsletter that brings you inside the most important conversations at the most influential events in the world. From the buzzy echoes emanating from the snowy peaks at the WEF in Davos to the discussions and personalities at Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to the heart of diplomacy at UNGA in New York City – author Suzanne Lynch brings it all to your fingertips. Experience the elite. Witness the influential. And never miss a global beat. BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION. SUBSCRIBE NOW.     QUICK LINKS  Nancy Mace’s Staff Guide Shows Her True Priority: Nancy Mace, from Jake Lahut at The Daily Beast Tuberville staffer asks anti-abortion groups to threaten Republicans with primaries, from Burgess Everett TRANSITIONS  Alana Lomis is now the deputy chief of staff for House Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul. She was previously the operations manager for Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and will continue as the director of operations for the Republican Main Street Caucus. There are a few moves in Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s office … Beth Pearson is now chief of staff. Laura Gerrard is now deputy chief of staff. And Gabrielle Elul is now legislative director. Janice Rottenberg is the state director in Massachusetts. TOMORROW IN CONGRESS The House is in session. The Senate is out. FRIDAY AROUND THE HILL *crickets*   A message from Electronic Payments Coalition: Don’t Buy What Mega-Retailers Are Selling About Durbin 2.0: FACT: Consumers Will Not See Any Savings from Credit Card Routing Mandates Credit card routing mandates would not lower the cost of goods for consumers, and in some cases, may raise costs for consumers. Proponents of the 2010 Durbin Amendment, which regulated debit routing and capped debit interchange, argued that merchants would pass along the savings. However, the Federal Reserve of Richmond found 98% of merchants either increased prices or kept them the same. There is no evidence to suggest that Durbin 2.0 would be any different. Congress: reject the Durbin credit card interchange bill. Click HERE to get the facts.   TRIVIA WEDNESDAY’S ANSWER: Megan Porter correctly answered that Rep. Kay Granger of Texas was the first Republican woman to sit on the House Defense Appropriations subcommittee. TODAY’S QUESTION from Megan: Which was the only team to vote against the MLB playoff expansion in 1993 and who was the managing partner for the decision? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answers to huddletrivia@politico.com. GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each evening. Follow Daniella on X at @DaniellaMicaela.   Follow us

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