House Republicans not impressed by Noem

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Apr 30, 2024 View in browser   By Olivia Beavers Presented by  With assists from POLITICO’s Congress team The dog-killing anecdote South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem retold in her upcoming book isn’t the only reason some fellow Republicans are scratching their heads in confusion and wondering about self-sabotage. | Jeff Dean/AP GOP LAWMAKERS ON S.D. GOV: WOOF South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem may be a former House Republican – but some lawmakers in the chamber believe her chances of becoming Donald Trump’s running mate are as dead as her late dog Cricket. Noem still has many friends in the GOP conference from her two terms in the chamber, but the dog-killing anecdote she retold in her upcoming book isn’t the only reason some fellow Republicans are scratching their heads in confusion and wondering about self-sabotage. There’s also her recent foray into influencer territory, with a recent promotional video on behalf of a Texas dental practice she visited sparking a proposed inquiry into Noem. But the 52-year-old's decision to write proudly in her memoir about throwing Cricket into a pit and shooting the canine dead is hitting hardest with GOP lawmakers who bluntly predict it will haunt her on the national political stage. Asked if the grisly anecdote hurt Noem’s chances of joining the former president’s ticket this fall, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) replied: “It does for me.” “The worst part of it is that it wasn't a hit job. She volunteered the information. So, when somebody tells you who they are, believe them,” added Malliotakis, a Trump supporter who is known for carrying her puppy Luna around the Capitol. Another Trump backer, Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), said that in his hometown of Miami, “I can tell you that people go bananas for dogs. … So could that affect her chances? Yes,” he said, before adding that “she’s going to get some pushback on this.” Noem defended herself as criticism flared from members of both parties and animal experts, arguing that she shared the story of killing her dog to show she can make tough choices. According to Noem, Cricket was unable to hunt and bit livestock – even biting her hand when she tried to pull it away from a chicken. South Dakota law permits the killing of a dog when it is disturbing livestock and liable for any damages to poultry or animal. But the story ran away from her and became something of a national punchline. One meme passed around Washington this week featured a grisly version of the famous children’s book “Clifford,” retitled as “The Big Dead Dog,” with Noem listed as the author. “It's a story that doesn't go away,” said Rep. Kelly Armstrong, who represents the neighboring state of North Dakota. “And it's not a good story.” That Noem was “caught going to Texas to get [her] teeth done, like, it seems off. But it's good for my governor,” Armstrong added, referring to his state’s departing governor Doug Burgum, who is also reportedly in the mix as a potential Trump running mate. One conservative House Republican, granted anonymity to talk candidly about Noem, delivered the ultimate brush-off to her dog murder. “I don't think she was ever a serious [running mate] contender. I just don't,” this lawmaker said, adding that the dog story would still rule her out because it’s “too much of a distraction.” A few Republicans downplayed the entire episode as not newsworthy. “I don’t see what the big deal is,” said Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.). “There are some people in the country who do believe that when a dog bites or dog kills, that's what you do. I've heard of it before.” Rep. Dusty Johnson, a fellow South Dakotan, argued that “life is a little different in rural America.” Noem “handled that with as much humanity for the animal as was needed,” Johnson said. “I'm surprised people are paying so much attention to that.” Another home-state colleague of Noem’s, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), told reporters that “there's only one person right now that's making that decision” about whether her canine encounter would disqualify her as a running mate. “And that'll be up to” Trump, added Rounds, “as to whether or not … he considers it that way or not.” One House Republican who’s said to be under consideration as a Trump running mate, Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), did not care to add to the dog discussion. – Olivia Beavers, with an assist from Ursula Perano   A message from American Beverage: America’s leading beverage companies – The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo – are bringing you more choices with less sugar. From sparkling, flavored and bottled waters to zero-sugar sodas, sports drinks, juices and teas, Americans have more options than ever. In fact, nearly 60% of beverages sold today have zero sugar. Families are looking for more choices to support their efforts to find balance and America’s beverage companies are delivering. Explore choices at BalanceUS.org.   GOOD EVENING! Welcome to Inside Congress, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Tuesday, April 30, where the camera-loving members had better remember to be quicker. FIRST IN IC: VETERANS ON DUTY HITS AIRWAVES TO THANK JOHNSON ON UKRAINE Veterans On Duty, a nonprofit advocacy organization, is preparing a high six-figure television, radio, and digital advertising campaign that will start Wednesday to thank Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans for supporting emergency spending on foreign aid. The campaign follows a long-running conservative effort to bring down the package, which will send billions of dollars of aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. A 30-second ad featured in the campaign includes footage from the late President Ronald Reagan saying that America is the “leader of the free world, whether we want to be or not … We are the only ones who can preserve the peace.” Veterans On Duty Chairman Jeremy Hunt, in a statement provided to POLITICO, said: “The leadership displayed by Speaker Johnson and so many national-security-minded Republicans in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, even in the face of opposition in their own party, is noble.” — Daniella Diaz NEVADA’S THIRD RAIL IS LIVE AGAIN Sam Brown, the GOP favorite to take on Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) in one of the nation’s most competitive Senate contests, is grabbing what has traditionally been one of his state’s political third rails: Support for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste project. After 2022 recordings of Brown voicing support for the project were unearthed by The Los Angeles Times, Rosen said in a statement that “I’ve been fighting against Washington politicians trying to force nuclear waste storage at Yucca Mountain since Sam Brown was still living in Texas.” Brown’s campaign did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment on his current position. Democrats and Republicans alike, most notably the late former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), have vigorously fought the project’s development for decades. — Anthony Adragna   THE GOLD STANDARD OF POLICY REPORTING & INTELLIGENCE: POLITICO has more than 500 journalists delivering unrivaled reporting and illuminating the policy and regulatory landscape for those who need to know what’s next. Throughout the election and the legislative and regulatory pushes that will follow, POLITICO Pro is indispensable to those who need to make informed decisions fast. The Pro platform dives deeper into critical and quickly evolving sectors and industries—finance, defense, technology, healthcare, energy—equipping policymakers and those who shape legislation and regulation with essential news and intelligence from the world’s best politics and policy journalists. Our newsroom is deeper, more experienced, and better sourced than any other—with teams embedded in the world’s most active legislative and regulatory power centers. From Brussels to Washington, New York to London, Sacramento to Paris, we bring subscribers inside the conversations that determine policy outcomes and the future of industries, providing insight that cannot be found anywhere else. Get the premier news and policy intelligence service, SUBSCRIBE TO POLITICO PRO TODAY.     RAND’S MISSED VOTE Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) turned heads last week when he missed the final vote series on aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan — arguably one of the most important roll calls of the year. Paul's absence has been something of a mystery. But he told Inside Congress that he didn’t attend votes that Tuesday because his father-in-law recently passed away. “I chose not to come back,” said Paul, who said he was grieving. He wasn’t the only senator to miss votes that day: Also absent were Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who had supported the $95 billion bill on an earlier procedural vote. But Paul stood out because delaying spending votes, particularly on Ukraine, is one of the Kentuckian's signature moves. The senator previously insisted that he wanted to delay this round of foreign aid votes for as long as possible. Finding a balance: Senators occasionally face tough choices when asked to make a vote during major personal events. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who has cast more than 9,000 consecutive votes, was at risk of missing her mother’s funeral last month amid delayed consideration of government funding legislation. She was eventually able to leave for the funeral with just hours to spare. And Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) agreed to vote “present” on Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh so Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) could attend his daughter’s wedding, effectively countering what would otherwise be his yes vote on the nominee. — Ursula Perano and Burgess Everett   A message from American Beverage:   HUDDLE HOTDISH The one where lawmakers are confused, yet patriotic, during a hearing. Salud Carbajal up with his next big meme video. Nancy Mace will be the first woman to deliver a commencement speech at the Citadel Corps of Cadets graduation this weekend. Paul Pelosi was spotted leaving the House and getting into an SUV. He told reporters he was doing well and on the mend after being attacked last year. Bill Nye and his famous bow tie were back on the Hill to meet with members along with reps from the Planetary Society. Strolling Thunder on the Hill. Release that negative energy, Capitol Hill. Tomorrow there will be free acupuncture, massage, coffee and snacks for Hill staff on the 4th floor of Cannon between 2 and 6 p.m.   A message from American Beverage: Families are looking for more choices to support their efforts to find balance. That’s why America’s beverage companies are now offering more than 600 brands with less sugar or no sugar at all, and our actions are making a real difference. Our commitment to supporting your efforts to find balance includes: · Putting clear calorie labels on every bottle, can and pack. · Reminding consumers to think about balance with signs on coolers and displays in store. · Innovating products to offer more choices with less sugar or no sugar at all. · Working with local organizations across the country to build awareness of the many choices available – and make zero-sugar beverages more available in communities where it’s needed most. Learn more at BalanceUS.org   QUICK LINKS  Opinion: The Price We Pay for Having Upper-Class Legislators, from Jamelle Bouie at The New York Times Opinion: Biden is letting Assad off the hook, with dangerous consequences, from Josh Rogin at The Washington Post The Exit Interviews: Twelve departing lawmakers tell us what Congress is really like, from the New York Times Opinion Section Washington’s weird marriage of convenience — hoodied John Fetterman and straitlaced Andy Kim from Mia McCarthy   THE GOLD STANDARD OF POLICY REPORTING & INTELLIGENCE: POLITICO has more than 500 journalists delivering unrivaled reporting and illuminating the policy and regulatory landscape for those who need to know what’s next. Throughout the election and the legislative and regulatory pushes that will follow, POLITICO Pro is indispensable to those who need to make informed decisions fast. POLITICO Pro dives deeper into critical and quickly evolving sectors and industries—finance, defense, technology, healthcare, energy—equipping policymakers and those who shape legislation and regulation with essential news and intelligence from the world’s best politics and policy journalists. Our newsroom is deeper, more experienced, and better sourced than any other—with teams embedded in the world’s most active legislative and regulatory power centers. From Brussels to Washington, New York to London, Sacramento to Paris, we bring subscribers inside the conversations that determine policy outcomes and the future of industries, providing insight that cannot be found anywhere else. Get the premier news and policy intelligence service, SUBSCRIBE TO POLITICO PRO TODAY.     TRANSITIONS  If you have a new job, send it to us at InsideCongress@politico.com. TOMORROW IN CONGRESS The House and Senate are in session. WEDNESDAY AROUND THE HILL 9 a.m. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) will hold a press conference on their motion to vacate effort. (House Triangle) 10 a.m. Rep. John James (R-Mich.) will host a press conference on Andretti Global Exclusion from Formula One. (House Triangle) 1:45 p.m. Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Judy Chu and CAPAC members will host a press conference on AANHPI Heritage Month. (House Triangle) 3 p.m. The House Small Business Committee holds a small business showcase. (HVC-201) 4 p.m. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and others will host a press conference on the reintroduction of the Crown Act. (House Triangle) TRIVIA MONDAY’S ANSWER: Annie Coulson was the first to correctly guess that the Senate first invoked cloture in 1919 on the Treaty of Versailles. (The rule was created in 1917, but it was not used until two years later.) TODAY’S QUESTION, from Annie: This former Senator received a 2024 Tony Award nomination today. For bonus points, name the musical! The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Inside Congress. Send your answers to insidecongress@politico.com. GET INSIDE CONGRESS emailed to your phone each evening.   Follow us

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