Credit comes due in key house races

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Jun 28, 2024 View in browser   By Nick Reisman, Emily Ngo and Jeff Coltin With help from Rich Mendez Mondaire Jones says he was critical in the passage of Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, but other lawmakers are contesting those claims. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images NEW YORK MINUTE: President Joe Biden was set to be in New York City today after stumbling through a disastrous debate performance late Thursday in which he reignited concerns about his age and struggled to push back on former President Donald Trump’s falsehoods. The Democrat was expected to help mark the opening of the new Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center memorializing the 1969 Stonewall riots, then attend an LGBTQ+ fundraiser for his reelection campaign. JONES AND BIF: Claiming credit for one of Biden’s signature legislative achievements is becoming a point of contention in one of the most competitive House races in the country. Former Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones has said he was key in getting the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act over the finish line — a claim that’s being called into question by those on both sides of the bargaining table. Jones’ campaign website says, “He negotiated passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.” Jones has also told multiple publications and news outlets a similar story: He negotiated the law’s passage in the House and was “instrumental” in getting the bill through the chamber. Two Republicans and one Democrat who are familiar with the negotiations over the law remember it differently. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), a chief GOP negotiator, told Playbook that he doesn’t recall Jones being deeply involved in the talks. “The bipartisan infrastructure bill was led by Rep. (John) Katko and Rep. (Conor) Lamb, and it was drafted and championed by our Bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus and our Senate counterparts,” Fitzpatrick wrote in an email. “If anyone else is claiming involvement, that’s certainly interesting news to me.” Katko, the Syracuse moderate now out of office after declining to run for reelection in 2022, backed up Fitzpatrick’s recollection of Jones’ involvement. “I don’t remember him being there,” Katko said. Jones is now running for the Hudson Valley seat he held for one term and faces Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, a top target for Democrats this year as the party tries to retake control of the House. Jones said in an interview with Playbook on Thursday that he’s never claimed to have been involved in the high-level bargaining over the specifics of the bill. Instead, he was part of the late-stage effort to get the Democratic factions of moderates and progressives on board to solidify the deal, Jones said. “I negotiated the agreement by which it was passed into law,” he said. “Never have I said, or would I say, that I negotiated the provisions of the infrastructure bill.” Jones recalled being in the room when Democrats were trying to craft a final sign-off. “We said, ‘Guys, we have to do this,’” he said. “‘We have to get this passed.’” But at least one Democrat does not recall Jones, a freshman at the time, playing a major role. “He wouldn’t be lying to say he was there in a meeting the night where we were going back and forth,” the Democrat, who was granted anonymity to speak frankly, said. “That’s not dishonest. But to say he was more involved than that would be a stretch.” Lawler’s campaign, however, is not seeing the nuance. “Can anyone trust a word that comes out of Mondaire’s mouth?” Lawler spokesperson Chris Russell said. “So far, the answer is clear — no.” — Nick Reisman HAPPY FRIDAY. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.   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.     WHERE’S KATHY? Making a transportation announcement, then delivering remarks at the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center grand opening ceremony WHERE’S ERIC? No public schedule… but he’ll probably be holding a press conference on a city budget deal at City Hall. More on that below. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I'll just use the pool in the private setting because I wear Speedos.” — Mayor Eric Adams, marking the opening of the New York City pool season, which did not go smoothly. ABOVE THE FOLD The National Republican Congressional Committee will spend millions in English and Spanish-language ads to back candidates all over New York. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images ADS INCOMING: In another sign that New York will be pivotal to the fight for the House majority this fall, the National Republican Congressional Committee is dedicating more than $5.5 million of its $45.7 million initial advertising reservations to the state. This buy covers television and digital spots, including Spanish-language ads, according to a memo circulated Thursday by NRCC Independent Expenditure Director Tom Erickson. And there’s plenty of money set aside for New York City, Binghamton, Syracuse and Utica markets. “True to our goal of expanding the majority, 13 of 22 districts in this reservation are currently held by Democrats,” Erickson wrote. “By contrast, a vast majority of the DCCC’s initial reservation is dedicated to defending their embattled members.” That’s not wholly the case in New York, where the House Republicans’ campaign arm is defending five incumbents: Lawler and Marc Molinaro in the Hudson Valley, Brandon Williams in the Syracuse area and Anthony D’Esposito and Nick LaLota on Long Island. The NRCC is also targeting Democrat Pat Ryan in the Hudson Valley. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, meanwhile, kicked off the general election season with five-figure buys for digital billboard campaigns targeting Williams and LaLota on abortion access. DCCC spokesperson Ellie Dougherty said, “Between celebrating the overturning of Roe v. Wade, playing politics with our border, and cutting funding for law enforcement, vulnerable New York Republicans clearly need all the help they can get.” In April, the pro-Democrat House Majority PAC announced $20.2 million in TV and digital reservations in New York out of $186 million nationwide. — Emily Ngo CITY HALL: THE LATEST Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council are nearing a budget resolution as $58 million in budget cuts to the city's library systems will be restored. | Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit BUDGET DEAL NEARS: After a protracted campaign enlisting Hillary Clinton, rallies with City Council members and a whole lot of memes blaming Adams for cutting Sunday service, the city’s three library systems will be getting $58 million in budget cuts restored, POLITICO reports. The Thursday night announcement from Adams and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams came as tense budget negotiations near a resolution. The informal accord also included assurances that a group of city-funded cultural institutions will be getting $53 million in cuts restored. The agreement — which is expected to be memorialized in a handshake agreement Friday and then passed by the Council ahead of a Monday deadline — will also include an additional $2 billion in capital for affordable housing, first reported by the Daily News. “We’re still working on a few last things.” a council spokesperson said Thursday. But as always, funding deals are only part of the story — the money actually has to get spent, and policy has to get enacted. First in Playbook, preschool advocacy group New Yorkers United for Child Care is putting out a video today reminding New Yorkers that even though the mayor repeatedly said that every child that wants a preschool seat will be placed in one, that didn’t happen. They’re calling for more funding for seats for three-year-olds. That’s expected to be part of the budget deal, the Daily News reported, but details were still unclear. — Jeff Coltin BUDGET PREP READING: Report: Adams’ administration is ‘unreasonably pessimistic’ in budget projections (City & State) More from the city: — The Adams administration is making a last-ditch attempt to reduce its ballooning expenses for municipal retirees’ health care, despite UFT abruptly pulling support for the plan. (POLITICO Pro) — NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban has repeatedly used a little-known authority to prevent officers accused of misconduct from facing public disciplinary trials — without victims knowing. (ProPublica and New York Times) — An NYPD officer database had security flaws that could have let hackers covertly modify officer data (City & State) NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY A Gov. Kathy Hochul-backed provision in the state budget this year is getting pushback from the home care industry. | Adrian Kraus/AP BUDGET FIGHT: A Medicaid savings plan approved in the state budget this year is drawing pushback from the home care industry in the form of a TV ad campaign. At issue is a provision backed by Hochul this year that’s meant to reduce costs under the popular consumer-directed personal assistance program, which has allowed people with disabilities or chronic illnesses to hire in-home caregivers. Hochul wants to reduce the number of companies in the program that handle billing, payroll and back-office tasks, which currently stands at more than 600 entities. The move is a cost-saving measure in the most expensive area of the state budget. But many of the companies that handle the administrative functions for the program believe the cuts represent an existential threat. The home care agencies have formed an advocacy group, the Alliance to Protect Home Care, and will launch a TV ad campaign in the Albany, Buffalo and New York City media markets. It was not revealed how much the group plans to spend on the campaign. But the effort is meant to convince state officials to reverse course. “This seismic healthcare policy shift is typical of New York State’s failed leadership and corruption and will ultimately threaten critical care for 250,000 New Yorkers,” Bryan O’Malley, the executive director of the Alliance to Protect Home Care, said in a statement. — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — A federal court upheld a law that bans outside income for state lawmakers. (POLITICO Pro) — The Dormitory Authority is being accused in a lawsuit of soliciting kickbacks. (POLITICO Pro) — Hochul, along with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, pressured regulators to approve the development of a project that had run afoul of environmental reviews. (Investigative Post)   Understand 2024’s big impacts with Pro’s extensive Campaign Races Dashboard, exclusive insights, and key coverage of federal- and state-level debates. Focus on policy. Learn more.     NEW YORK STATE OF MIND — A state appellate court ruled the state can enforce a directive requiring private schools like yeshivas to meet learning standards in core subjects. (POLITICO Pro) — Rep. Jamaal Bowman, who lost the Democratic primary this week, will not actively campaign on the Working Families Party line in the fall. (News12) — If Grimace saved the Mets, can he secure the city migrant aid from Biden? (City & State) SOCIAL DATA Edited by Daniel Lippman PLAYBOOK REAL ESTATE SECTION — “Psychedelics and the King of LSD: Inside the $65 Million New York Compound With a Trippy History: Timothy Leary and his followers once roamed the roughly 2,000-acre Hitchcock estate, which became the epicenter of the ‘psychedelic awakening,’” by WSJ’s Katherine Clarke MAKING MOVES:  MEDIAWATCH — Sewell Chan is the new executive editor of the Columbia Journalism Review. He was previously editor in chief of the Texas Tribune and is a New York Times and LA Times alum. … Joel Schectman and Maggie Severns are joining the Wall Street Journal’s enterprise team. Schectman previously was an investigative reporter for Reuters. Severns previously was a reporter at NOTUS and is a POLITICO alum. — Former Riverdale Press editor Michael Hinman bullied reporters for years, according to interviews with nine people who worked with him — then, he was promoted. (The Objective) HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Elon Musk … Comcast’s Brian Roberts … Marc Kasowitz … Onward Energy’s Frances Resheske … New York Focus’ Chris Bragg … Alyson Grant Tarek … NYC DOT’s Scott Gastel … Erin McPike … Pete Nonis … Kurt Eichenwald … Stephanie Benedict … Mike Basch … Mike Lurie … Weston Nadherny … AP’s Brendan Farrington … Bloomberg’s Anna Edgerton  Missed Thursday’s New York Playbook PM? We forgive you. Read it here.   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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