Playbook PM: Voters say: If we like it, it’s infrastructure

From: POLITICO Playbook - Wednesday Apr 14,2021 05:37 pm

Apr 14, 2021

By Mike Zapler, Eli Okun and Garrett Ross

Presented by Facebook

Last week we posed a question in Playbook that’s expected to dominate politics over the next several months: What counts as infrastructure?

According to American voters, a lot.

Our latest poll with Morning Consult tested some of the things that President JOE BIDEN is including under the rubric of his massive infrastructure bill — items that stretch the traditional definition beyond roads and bridges to items such as child care, paid leave and broadband. Yet most people seem fine with any contortions.

The takeaway: As long as it’s something they like, the Biden administration can call it whatever they want.

The level of support for non-infrastructure-ish stuff was significantly lower among Republicans, but enough for Biden to claim that a good number of Republicans out in the country — if not the Congress — back his ideas.

Here’s a snapshot of the findings. People were asked whether they “strongly” or “somewhat” agree or disagree whether each of the following “can be considered part of America’s ‘infrastructure.’” (We combined the strongly/somewhat numbers.)

•	Paid leave: 47% agree, 37% disagree (31% of Republicans agree)
•	Child care: 53% agree, 32% disagree (40% of Republicans agree)
•	Caregiving: 54% agree, 31% disagree (43% of Republicans agree)
•	Internet: 68% agree, 19% disagree (57% of Republicans agree)
•	Public schools: 70% agree, 20% disagree (62% of Republicans agree)

Overall, voters back Biden’s infrastructure plan, 57% to 24%. One of every four Republicans said they support it. As for paying for it by raising taxes on corporations, 62% of respondents are in favor (including 29% of Republicans) vs. 26% opposed. Toplines … Crosstabs

WATCH: Biden is trying to redefine politics through words: In an effort to push through their agenda, the Biden administration is attempting to redefine basic political concepts. Is their strategy working? This week RYAN breaks down the words that have defined Biden’s presidency so far: bipartisanship, crisis and infrastructure. They are even pushing back over what should be the marker for his 100 days in office (technically that is April 29). The president’s supporters might think we are being pedantic, but allowing people in power to redefine certain words for their own benefit is a slippery slope.

VP KAMALA HARRIS said at her immigration roundtable this morning that she does not have any imminent plans to visit the U.S.-Mexico border, but she is planning a trip soon to the Northern Triangle, including stops in Mexico and Guatemala, per pooler Christian Datoc of The Daily Caller.

— Meanwhile, House GOP leaders brought a milk carton with Harris’ face that said “MISSING AT THE BORDER” to their presser this morning.

Good Wednesday afternoon.

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THE AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL — The White House put out excerpts of what Biden will say this afternoon about setting a Sept. 11 departure date for U.S. troops in Afghanistan, including: “We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan hoping to create the ideal conditions for our withdrawal, expecting a different result. I am now the fourth American president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan. Two Republicans. Two Democrats. I will not pass this responsibility to a fifth.”

— AFGHAN PRESIDENT @ashrafghani: “Tonight, I had a call with President Biden in which we discussed the U.S. decision to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan by early September. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan respects the U.S. decision and we will work with our U.S. partners to ensure a smooth transition.” “As we move into the next phase in our partnership, we will continue to work with our US/NATO partners in the ongoing peace efforts.” “Afghanistan’s proud security and defense forces are fully capable of defending its people and country, which they have been doing all along, and for which the Afghan nation will forever remain grateful.”

— HOW IT’S PLAYING: “Afghans Wonder ‘What About Me?’ as U.S. Troops Prepare to Withdraw,” NYT: “Many Afghans fear that without the umbrella of American protection, the country will be unable to preserve its modest gains toward democracy and women’s rights.”

WOOF — AP/Dubai: “Iran’s supreme leader says offers being made at Vienna talks over nuclear deal ‘are not worth looking at.’”

RETIREMENT WATCH — “Republican U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady will retire from Congress at the end of his term,” Texas Tribune: “The announcement was widely expected as he was facing a term limit in his role as the top Republican at the House Ways and Means Committee … He made the announcement in a meeting of the Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Outlook Conference. …

“In his time on Capitol Hill, Brady has had no reservations about engaging in partisan fights, but he mostly carried himself with a sunny disposition. … The pinnacle of Brady’s career came in late 2017, when he spearheaded the successful Republican push to drastically reduce taxes.”

NEW FOR THE SEC — “Gensler confirmed as top Wall Street cop, bringing new era of tough scrutiny,” by Kellie Mejdrich

THE J&J IMPACT — “Underserved communities bear brunt of paused Johnson & Johnson rollout,” WaPo: “Because the single-shot option is favored for transient and hard-to-reach populations, the pause’s most immediate cost was exacted on those with the fewest other options. That includes students, rural residents and people involved in shift work, throwing a new hurdle in front of the Biden administration’s efforts to introduce greater equity into the nation’s vaccination campaign.”

TITLE 42 DATA — “Under Trump-era border rule that Biden has kept, few asylum-seekers can seek U.S. refuge,” CBS: “Despite campaign promises to restore U.S. asylum, the Biden administration has expelled tens of thousands of migrants, including families with children, through a Trump-era rule that has allowed just 0.3% of those processed under it to seek refuge, according to data obtained by CBS News.”

SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TO JOIN AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION: Power is changing, in Washington and across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that all politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. Our twice-weekly newsletter "The Recast” breaks down how race and identity are shaping politics and policy in America and we are recasting how we report on it. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear from important new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION — “Biden rolls back Trump’s anti-abortion curbs on family planning funds,” by Alice Miranda Ollstein: “New rules proposed Wednesday would largely return the Title X program to its pre-Trump formation, allowing more abortion clinics to participate in a program that provides free or subsidized contraception and other health services to about 4 million low-income Americans each year.” The rules

— “Treasury sets up office to oversee implementation of recovery programs,” CNN: “The office, which will be led by Jacob Leibenluft, will mainly focus on establishing and administering the Treasury programs to support an equitable and swift recovery from the pandemic. It will work closely with Gene Sperling, the White House American Rescue Plan coordinator.”

2022 WATCH — “Wisconsin Treasurer Sarah Godlewski joins Democratic race for U.S. Senate in 2022,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “In a video to launch her campaign, Godlewski sought to set up a contrast with [Sen. Ron] Johnson and said: ‘We’re ... how do I put it nicely? Different.’ ‘Ron Johnson has spent his time covering up for Donald Trump, denying climate change and catering to the super-wealthy,’ she said. … An energetic campaigner, Godlewski’s run has drawn national interest.” Launch video

— “Washington Senate race: GOP veterans rights leader to challenge Democratic Sen. Patty Murray,” Fox News: “Tiffany Smiley … fought for her husband after the Army officer was permanently blinded during an attack in Iraq. Later, she was a driving force in the push that led to reforms at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that were signed into law by President Donald Trump.” Launch video

— “New Target for New York’s Ascendant Left: Rep. Carolyn Maloney,” NYT: “Justice Democrats will throw its support behind Rana Abdelhamid, a community organizer and nonprofit founder, in her bid against Ms. Maloney, laying the groundwork for a generational, ideological and insider-versus-outsider battle that will test the power and energy of the left with President Donald J. Trump now out of office.”

TO RUSSIA, WITH … LOVE? — “Biden’s decision: How hard to punch back at Putin's hackers,” by Martin Matishak: “The Biden administration is preparing a new round of penalties that it could announce as soon as this week, according to a person familiar with the internal deliberations, who requested anonymity to disclose sensitive discussions. The steps could include imposing sanctions on Russian intelligence agencies and a new round of ejections of Russian diplomats, the person said.

“At the same time, it has sent signals it may offer a stronger deterrent — a message the president reinforced during a call Tuesday with Putin. … In truth, the United States’ options for retaliating may be surprisingly limited, despite the country’s own arsenal of potent cyber weapons.”’

— Bloomberg’s @JenniferJacobs: “Czech Republic offers Prague as a possible location for the Biden/Putin summit the US president has proposed, @business reports.”

— White House press secretary JEN PSAKI said at today’s briefing that the goal is to have a “predictable” relationship with Russia.

YOUR GUIDE TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION: As the Biden administration closes in on three months in office, what are the big takeaways? Will polls that show support for infrastructure initiatives and other agenda items translate into Republican votes or are they a mirage? What's the plan to deal with Sen. Joe Manchin? Add Transition Playbook to your daily reads for details you won't find anywhere else that reveal what's really happening inside the West Wing and across the executive branch. Track the people, policies and power centers of the Biden administration. Subscribe today.

FOR YOUR RADAR — “Biden Brushes Off China’s Complaints, Sends First Delegation to Taiwan,” WSJ: “Christopher J. Dodd, a former Democratic senator from Connecticut, and former senior State Department officials Richard Armitage and James Steinberg touched down in Taipei on Wednesday afternoon local time, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said.

“During their three-day stay, the U.S. delegation will dine with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen and the foreign minister, and discuss bilateral relations, the Taiwan side said. Taiwan’s state-run Central News Agency reported Wednesday that Taiwanese officials would brief the U.S. delegation on China’s recent provocations against the island and across the region, and call for increased support from Washington on trade, security and economic matters.”

BEYOND THE BELTWAY — “The end of the imperial governorship,” by Nick Niedzwiadek: “[L]awmakers across the country — from Maine to California, Oregon to Florida — have proposed and, in many cases, passed similar measures to curtail the sweeping powers bestowed on their state executives.

“The tug-of-war between legislators and governors has the potential to shape the boundaries of gubernatorial authority for years to come and raises substantive questions of how much leeway the state leaders should have during prolonged crises. … Lawmakers are only now realizing how much power they cede to the executive — and are attempting to reassert themselves in blunt ways. If 2020 marked the rise of the authoritarian governors, 2021 may be the beginning of their fall.”

VALLEY TALK — “The FBI wanted to unlock the San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone. It turned to a little-known Australian firm,” WaPo: “Azimuth unlocked the iPhone at the center of an epic legal battle between the FBI and Apple. Now, Apple is suing the company co-founded by one of the hackers behind the unlock.”

COMING ATTRACTIONS — GEORGE W. BUSH is starting to make the rounds for his new book, “Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants” ( $38). He’ll sit down with CBS’ NORAH O’DONNELL to talk about his readiness to jump back into the immigration debate and lobby the GOP to pass reform. The interview will air across multiple programs, starting with “CBS Sunday Morning” this weekend. And he’ll join HODA KOTB on NBC’s “Today” show Tuesday for his first live TV interview in three years, which will precede an on-air naturalization ceremony for 30 new citizens.

AFTERNOON SNACK — “A minor investigation into the Bidens’ Major problem,” WaPo

STAFFING UP — The White House announced a slate of coming nominations for climate and transportation roles: Tommy Beaudreau as deputy Interior secretary, Meera Joshi as Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration head, Faisal Amin as CFO at the EPA, Christopher Coes as an assistant Transportation secretary, Shannon Estenoz, Winnie Stachelberg and Tanya Trujillo as assistant Interior secretaries, Radhika Fox and Michal Freedhoff as assistant EPA administrators and Jill Hruby as an undersecretary at the National Nuclear Security Administration. More from WaPo

TRANSITION — Graham Senor is joining Precision Strategies. He currently is comms director for Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.).

ENGAGED — Trent Edwards, VP of membership and partnerships at Technet, and Rebecca Mark, head of marketing for data startup Datacoral and a Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Kevin Brady alum, got engaged Sunday on an afternoon mountainside hike in wine country. The couple met at the NRCC in the 2010 cycle. Pic