Playbook PM: Joe Manchin has a few things on his mind

From: POLITICO Playbook - Wednesday Aug 11,2021 05:15 pm

Aug 11, 2021

By Ryan Lizza, Garrett Ross and Eli Okun

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MANCHIN GONNA MANCHIN — Well, the celebrations didn’t last long. Hours after the Democrats passed their $3.5 trillion budget, JOE MANCHIN — he’s a Democratic senator from West Virginia, as you may have heard — shoved a stick in the spokes of the Biden agenda when he said the following in a statement:

“I have serious concerns about the grave consequences facing West Virginians and every American family if Congress decides to spend another $3.5 trillion.

“Over the past year, Congress has injected more than $5 trillion of stimulus into the American economy — more than any time since World War II — to respond to the pandemic. The challenge we now face is different: millions of jobs remain unfilled across the country and rising inflation rates are now an unavoidable tax on the wages and income of every American. These are not indications of an economy that requires trillions in additional spending. Every elected leader is chosen to make difficult decisions. Adding trillions of dollars more to nearly $29 trillion of national debt, without any consideration of the negative effects on our children and grandchildren, is one of those decisions that has become far too easy in Washington.”

There are a couple of things to note here:

1) Manchin’s point about the Biden budget and inflation is precisely the same one made by Republicans — and one that’s been repeatedly rebutted by his Democratic colleagues. Republicans have tried to conflate the stimulus spending of the pandemic that’s quickly injected into the economy with the longer-term spending spread across decades that’s included in the budget. Democrats have worked hard to note the difference. (The difference between the two has also been a core argument of inflation hawk LARRY SUMMERS.)

2) Democrats say that their spending will be paid for, so Manchin’s warning about “adding trillions of dollars” to the national debt has progressives scratching their heads/seething.

All in all, it’s been a pretty momentous 24 hours for Manchin polishing his man-in-the-middle bona fides. He’s voted for bans on teaching critical race theory in schools and using federal funds for abortions. He’s voted in favor of using federal money for fossil fuel-burning power plants and an amendment that would gut Biden’s electric vehicle tax credits. And it’s only Wednesday!

SPEAKING OF INFLATION — “July consumer prices jump 5.4%, but core inflation rises less than expected,” by CNBC’s Thomas Franck: “Prices that Americans pay for everyday goods and services accelerated in July as pent-up demand for travel and restaurants kept inflation hot, but about where economists had expected.

“The Labor Department reported Wednesday that its consumer price index rose 5.4% in July from a year earlier, in line with June’s figure and matching the largest jump since August 2008. … So-called core inflation, which excludes energy and food, rose by 0.3% last month, shy of a forecasted 0.4% increase and well below June’s rise of 0.9%. The core figure is up 4.3% over the last year, a slight deceleration from June’s 4.5%.”

— But consumer inflation actually slowed compared to recent months, notes Bloomberg’s Reade Pickert.

Good Wednesday afternoon.

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BIG-BUCK CHUCK — Senate Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER said in a news conference this morning that the past 24 hours were “the biggest legislative day we’ve had in a long time,” but acknowledged that the work was just beginning.

In comments that seemed to address Manchin and Sen. KYRSTEN SINEMA’S apprehensions over Democrats’ proposed $3.5 trillion reconciliation package, Schumer repeatedly stated that his “entire caucus” agrees that more needs to be done. “There are some in my caucus who believe it’s too much, there are some in my caucus who think it’s too little,” Schumer said. But the end result “will have every part of the Biden plan in a big, bold, robust way. Everything is on the table.”

As for timing on the budget package, Schumer said Senate committees will meet weekly over the August recess, and that he would like the bill to be written by Sept. 15.

On the debt ceiling, Schumer kicked the ball back into Minority Leader MITCH MCCONNELL’S court: “I cannot believe the Republicans would let the country default.”

MEANWHILE — Heather Caygle (@heatherscope): “Speaker [NANCY] PELOSI opens caucus call by holding *super firm* to timeline she's laid out: ‘I am not freelancing. This is the consensus,’ she tells Democrats. She has said House won't take up bipartisan infrastructure bill until Senate passes reconciliation package.”

PANDEMIC

WaPo has a wide-angle view of how the world is handling the latest surge of coronavirus infections: “Living and dying with covid: How the world is grappling with yet another major coronavirus surge,” by WaPo’s Sammy Westfall

THE VACCINATION EFFORT — “Biden to Urge Businesses to Require Covid-19 Vaccine for Workers,” by WSJ’s Tarini Parti and Sabrina Siddiqui: “President Biden will meet Wednesday with the chief executives of United Airlines Holdings Inc. and Kaiser Permanente in a bid to encourage more companies to follow their lead and require workers to get vaccinated against Covid-19. Howard University President WAYNE FREDERICK and DIANE SUMPTER, a small business leader from South Carolina, are also expected to attend the virtual meeting alongside United CEO SCOTT KIRBY and Kaiser Permanente CEO GREGORY ADAMS, a White House official said.

“The companies and university have all said staff must be vaccinated, and Howard is also requiring students to get the shots. Mr. Biden plans to highlight the four as a model for other private-sector leaders, as officials race to get more Americans vaccinated and slow the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant, which has triggered a rise in cases and hospitalizations across the country.”

— “Amtrak to require employee vaccinations or testing, memo says,” Reuters

— “GOP, industry signal fight over potential Biden vaccine ‘threat,’” by Rachel Roubein: “Republicans and some industry groups are signaling they would oppose any effort from the Biden administration to use the threat of withholding federal funds to push some employers — like nursing homes and health facilities — to mandate Covid vaccines.

“If President Joe Biden goes that route, the move would mark the first time his administration has used the power of the purse to increase vaccinations. Administration officials have struggled for months to find new ways to jumpstart immunizations, and some public health experts believe this could help. But as the Biden administration discusses whether to withhold dollars from certain institutions, critics argue that threatening to pull federal funding to push employers to require vaccines is a step too far that could instead harm institutions by costing them millions of dollars.”

YOUTUBE TIMEOUT FOR PAUL — “Rand Paul cut off from YouTube for a week following criticism of face masks,” by Nick Niedzwiadek: “YouTube took action against Sen. RAND PAUL (R-Ky.) on Tuesday, removing a video from him and halting his ability to publish content for a week after Paul posted a clip challenging the utility of mask-wearing to slow the spread of the coronavirus.”

STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.

CONGRESS

SENATE STEPBACK — What was at stake in the infrastructure negotiations? Democracy itself, if you listen to those who worked on it. AP’s Lisa Mascaro is up with a piece about the return of bipartisanship in Congress, with senators gushing about what this bill means for the so-called world’s greatest deliberative body.

“‘We all knew that, quite honestly, that the world was watching,’ said Sen. JON TESTER, D-Mont. … ‘ We really realized that this was going to be important for the country, and I think it’s important for the institution,’ Sen. LISA MURKOWSKI, R-Alaska, said recently after a long day at the Capitol. ‘I’m really worried that everybody believes that we’re as dysfunctional as we appear to be, and so prove otherwise, it’s kind of important.’ …

“‘They sent me a note. It said, “Biden on three for you.” I literally said, “I don’t know what that means,”’ Sinema told The Associated Press. ‘He said congratulations, and we spent some time talking about how important this victory is, not just for the work we’re doing on infrastructure but also to demonstrate that bipartisanship is still alive and our Congress can function,’ she said.”

HEADS UP — “Federal judge says Trump’s accountants must turn over tax records to House panel,” by Josh Gerstein: “U.S. District Court Judge AMIT MEHTA approved a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee subpoena for [former President DONALD] TRUMP'S records covering 2017 and 2018, but turned down most of the panel’s request for similar information dating back to 2011.”

TRUMP VS. MCCONNELL — “Trump Just Won’t Stop Messing With Mitch McConnell,” by Vice’s Cameron Joseph: “Trump’s latest barrage of attacks irritated some GOP senators — including North Dakota Republican Sen. KEVIN CRAMER, who was one of Trump’s earliest endorsers during his 2016 presidential bid.

“‘If anybody's gonna go after anybody they should be going after Joe Biden and his administration,’ Cramer told VICE News. ‘It would be far better if he and every other Republican would aim their disgust at the people that are causing problems in our country, not those of us trying to solve them.’ … ‘They weren’t exactly friendly before. It’s not like these were two best friends and he was scorned after the election,’ said a source close to Trump. ‘Neither one holds the other in too high of a regard. Trump thinks McConnell is a moron.’”

WATCH: How Trump's influence keeps haunting Washington, explained: Time is not on Trump's side. The Biden administration saw a major win by passing a bipartisan trillion dollar infrastructure bill that could flood the workforce with thousands of jobs and keep his campaign promise of fixing Washington. Since losing the 2020 election, the former president has had a handful of botched attempts to return to the spotlight. Ryan breaks down the dynamics of Trump's return, what's working, what isn't and what to expect next.

STUCK IN THE MUD — “Biden’s highest-ranking Muslim nominee mired in GOP blockade,” by Nicholas Wu: “Accusations of Islamophobia and anti-Israel bias are bogging down the confirmation of an under-the-radar Biden administration nominee who'd be the highest-ranking Muslim in its ranks if he’s confirmed. The White House tapped DILAWAR SYED for the No. 2 post at the Small Business Administration in March, but the Senate Small Business Committee has been unable to advance Syed’s nomination as Republicans criticize what they say is the veteran businessman’s association with an ‘anti-Israel’ Muslim American group. …

“Particularly alarming to some Syed supporters is a June email circulated among Republican committee staff by an aide to Sen. JIM RISCH (R-Idaho), a copy of which was obtained by POLITICO. The email notes Syed’s Pakistani roots and his membership on the board of EmgageUSA, a Muslim American nonprofit that ‘has taken very partisan positions’ against actions by the Israeli government.”

POLICY CORNER

FOR YOUR RADAR — “White House Urges OPEC to Boost Oil Output Amid Covid-19 Economic Recovery,” by WSJ’s Ken Thomas: “The White House urged OPEC to boost oil production Wednesday, saying recent planned increases are insufficient as countries around the world seek to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic. National security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement that recent planned production increases by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries would “not fully offset previous production cuts” made by OPEC and its oil-producing allies during the pandemic.”

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POLITICS ROUNDUP

STEPPING UP — “Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul Begins Transition Following Gov. Cuomo’s Resignation,” by WSJ’s Jimmy Vielkind: “New York Lt. Gov. KATHY HOCHUL is lining up support among local politicians as she transitions to become New York’s first female governor after Gov. ANDREW CUOMO said Tuesday he would resign. Ms. Hochul, a Democrat, plans to address the public Wednesday afternoon, her office said. …

“Ms. Hochul spent Tuesday afternoon calling officials around the state who have advised her during her time in office, according to some people who received her call. She had previously spoken with advisers about whom to hire and which members of Mr. Cuomo’s administration might remain in their posts.”

REDISTRICTING READ — “LGBTQ advocates target a new way to grow political power: Redistricting,” by Ally Mutnick: “The LGBTQ Victory Fund is launching a first-of-its-kind effort to lobby redistricting authorities in different states to consider gay populations as ‘communities of interest’ in map-drawing, the same status given to Black and Latino voters, and other racial and ethnic groups. …

“The Victory Fund’s campaign, ‘We Belong Together,’ is rolling out this week with a two-pronged strategy: get allied organizations to lobby mapmakers to keep gay areas intact, a process that has already begun in some states, and start assembling data showing exactly where LGBTQ communities are located to speed the process along. … The group's top targets are in Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan and Montana — states where redistricting is done by nonpartisan commissions that have mechanisms in place to solicit and collect voter outreach, as opposed to state legislators drawing the maps.”

DEEP IN THE HEART — “‘He’s Not Charismatic. … I Think That Has Been Part of His Success,’” by Renuka Rayasam in Austin, Texas: “For many political watchers in and outside Texas, GREG ABBOTT is a political puzzle. He’s not a conservative firebrand. He lacks the star power of his predecessors — the folksiness of RICK PERRY; the swagger of GEORGE W. BUSH; the famously sharp wit of ANN RICHARDS. …

“Yet, in a state with no lack of lively, crowd-winning politicians, Abbott, 63, has all-but cleared the field for an election that doesn’t happen until November 2022. Without the national profile of his other red-state counterparts like Florida’s RON DESANTIS , without a distinct policy platform and with near-constant pressure from Texas’ conservative base to shift further right, Abbott — who has never lost an election — seems like a shoo-in for a third term. He has raised $55 million, the largest sum ever for a statewide candidate in Texas, and he has earned Trump’s endorsement — all before officially announcing he’s running.”

BEYOND THE BELTWAY

TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE — “Evicted, Despite a Federal Moratorium: ‘I Do Not Know What I am Going to Do,’” by NYT’s Neil MacFarquhar in Las Vegas: “More than 1.4 million Americans expect to be evicted in the next two months, according to a survey completed by the U.S. Census Bureau in early July. For another 2.2 million people, the prospect is ‘somewhat likely.’”

AMERICA AND THE WORLD

FOR THOSE KEEPING TRACK — “U.S. granted more grounds to appeal on Assange extradition,” by AP’s Sylvia Hui

PLAYBOOKERS

ON THE PLUS SIDE — “Jenn Suozzo, ‘NBC Nightly News’ Executive Producer, Expected to Join CNN Plus,” by Variety’s Brian Steinberg: “Jenn Suozzo, a veteran NBC News producer who has been working as the top producer at ‘NBC Nightly News,’ will step away from the broadcast and is expected to be the latest high-profile TV-news executive to join CNN’s new CNN Plus streaming service, according to a person familiar with the matter.

“CNN and NBC News declined to comment on where Suozzo may be headed but the role is expected to be a senior one, according to this person. … If a deal is finalized, Suozzo would be the second prominent NBC News staffer to decamp to the CNN streaming outlet, which is slated to debut in early 2022.”

A RARE LIONS VICTORY — “Ex-Detroit Lions receiver Nate Burleson named new co-host of ‘CBS This Morning,’” by Detroit Free Press’ Julie Hinds

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