Playbook PM: A whiff of bipartisanship on infrastructure

From: POLITICO Playbook - Thursday Apr 15,2021 05:33 pm

Apr 15, 2021

By Ryan Lizza, Rachael Bade, Eli Okun and Garrett Ross

Presented by Facebook

There have been some big developments on a bipartisan infrastructure bill over the last 24 hours:

— On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER said he would put forward a $30 billion water resources bill as a kind of test to find the universe of Republicans who might support a bigger bipartisan measure.

— The “G-10” Republican senators met Wednesday afternoon to discuss the way forward and one of their members, Sen. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO (W.Va.), announced on CNBC that they would be putting forward a package of about $600-800 billion.

That’s a big number. The transportation infrastructure portion of the JOE BIDEN plan is $621 billion.

— Sen. CHRIS COONS (D-Del.), who’s close to Biden, laid out on CNN and to reporters on the Hill today a legislative strategy that has been widely discussed but that has not been endorsed publicly by anyone as prominent as Coons.

The senator proposed a bipartisan 60-vote bill of core infrastructure spending, followed by a reconciliation bill that included everything else in Biden’s American Jobs Plan and his forthcoming American Families Plan.

“We are trying to get $2 trillion worth of infrastructure and jobs investments,” Coons said. “Why wouldn’t you do 800 billion of it in a bipartisan way? And then do the other 1.2 trillion, Dems-only, through reconciliation?”

— The “G-20” senators — the G-10 Republicans plus 10 Democratic counterparts — are having a call at 2 p.m. today. Several Senate sources described the meeting, which will be hosted by Sen. JOE MANCHIN (D-W.Va.), as the most important one this year in terms of figuring out whether there will be a bipartisan deal.

“Encouraging sign,” said a Republican staffer in an office involved in the negotiations. “But I think this meeting HAS to go well today” because GOP lawmakers are wary that the White House genuinely wants a bipartisan package.

— Meanwhile, we heard from several Senate progressive sources and several conservative GOP Senate sources outside of the G-20 who were not impressed with what Coons floated.

“It's a pretty big gaffe,” said a Senate GOP aide, for Coons to say “they'll jam through all the parts we hate with reconciliation right after.” (Notably, though, Capito said she had no problem with the Dems doing a reconciliation bill after a bipartisan bill.)

On the Democratic side, there’s a fear that Coons is ahead of where the White House and Senate leadership are on legislative strategy. Moreover, progressives worry about two things: 1) Why should the “Republican” bill get prioritized over the rest of the Biden policies, and 2) What happens if the second bill, stripped of some its most popular policies, doesn’t pass?

Finally, while it’s not impossible to find $600-800 billion in bipartisan infrastructure spending, there’s a much wider gulf between the two parties on the pay-fors.

“We’ll be able to come to agreement on what needs to be done,” Sen. MITT ROMNEY (R-Utah) said earlier today. “How to pay for it will be where we find the greatest challenge.”

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PELOSI AND MCCONNELL AGREE FOR NOW: NO COURT PACKING — Speaker NANCY PELOSI said at her weekly news conference that she opposes House Judiciary Chair JERRY NADLER’S (D-N.Y.) bill proposing a four-seat expansion of the Supreme Court — at least right now. Biden’s commission to study the issue is sufficient, she said, arguing that her caucus’ focus is on infrastructure.

Senate Minority Leader MITCH MCCONNELL, meanwhile, used his morning floor speech to lambaste the idea.

DEPARTMENT OF AWKWARD — Asked this morning whether DONALD TRUMP should stop attacking Rep. LIZ CHENEY (R-Wyo.), House Minority Leader KEVIN MCCARTHY wouldn’t answer the question. “The No. 1 thing I want to have happen is make sure the next century is the American century and I know the policies that President Biden’s doing is putting in greater damage,” he said at a presser. How’s that for a non-sequitur?

Good Thursday afternoon. New on the White House schedule: VP KAMALA HARRIS will deliver remarks at 3:30 p.m. today about the child care investment in the infrastructure/jobs plan. And Biden will deliver remarks about Russia at 4:30 p.m. in the East Room.

LAYING DOWN THE LAW — “Biden Imposes Sanctions on Russia, Restricts Buying New Debt,” Bloomberg: “The Biden administration imposed a series of new sanctions on Russia, including restrictions on buying new sovereign debt, in retaliation for alleged misconduct related to the SolarWinds hack and efforts to disrupt the U.S. election.

“The new measures sanction 32 entities and individuals, including government and intelligence officials, and six Russian companies that provide support to the Russian government’s hacking operations. The U.S. is also expelling 10 Russian diplomats working in Washington, including some intelligence officers. The Biden administration also is barring U.S. financial institutions from participating in the primary market for new debt issued by the Russian central bank, Finance Ministry and sovereign wealth fund.”

— @Kevinliptakcnn: “The United States intelligence community has only ‘low to moderate confidence’ that Russia offered bounties on American troops serving in Afghanistan, and isn’t imposing any punishment on Moscow for the possible action right now, a senior administration official says.”

South Korean President MOON JAE-IN will visit the White House in the latter half of May, press secretary JEN PSAKI announced today.

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THE NEW GOP — “GOP uses threats hearing to air political, personal grievances,” by Martin Matishak and Connor O’Brien: “Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee used the panel’s first public hearing in five years on the United States’ most dire global threats to air a range of domestic grievances to intelligence and law enforcement leaders Thursday — from the prosecution of former Trump administration official Michael Flynn to the Steele dossier to antifa.”

LATEST IN MINNEAPOLIS — The defense in the DEREK CHAUVIN trial has rested. He invoked his Fifth Amendment privilege and declined to testify.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT PICTURE — “U.S. jobless claims plunge to 576,000, lowest since pandemic,” AP

SCOOP — “Biden prepares sweeping order on climate-related risks,” by Lorraine Woellert

THE PULLOUT — “Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Afghanistan on Unannounced Visit,” WSJ: “Mr. Biden’s top foreign-policy aide met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani … Mr. Blinken also met Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the country’s High Council for National Reconciliation … For the U.S., the visit is a chance to show the Afghan people that American diplomats and institutions will continue to support the country’s development.”

ALSO — “Pentagon expects Afghanistan withdrawal orders ‘ASAP’ as fears of Taliban attacks grow,” by Lara Seligman

IMMIGRATION FILES — One of the biggest mysteries of the Biden administration in recent weeks has been why the president has delayed raising the refugee cap — a procedurally simple stroke of the pen that would have a big impact on the lives of people currently stranded in limbo. It’s popular with his base but, like many Democratic immigration priorities, not with the public writ large. Psaki continued to stonewall this at today’s briefing.

CNN finally has some clarity this morning, and it’s basically what you’d expect: politics. “Biden resists raising refugee cap over political optics, sources say”: “One Democratic aide described what is unfolding as ‘vintage Biden’ in terms of preserving his options so that he can maintain decision-making space for the one that best suits him politically. Democratic lawmakers and advocates, frustrated with the delay, have tried to seek answers from the administration but have fallen short. …

“Another proposal has now sprung up: The administration is considering stripping restrictions put in place by Trump’s Presidential Determination to cast a wider net of refugees who can arrive in the US, until the ceiling is raised, CNN has learned.” More in WaP o

IN THE MIDDLE — “The GOP’s most important votes: 2 Democrats,” by Burgess Everett: “Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) are under lots of pressure from liberal activists and their Democratic colleagues to buckle on the filibuster, [Mitch] McConnell told Senate Republicans on Tuesday, according to two sources familiar with the party meeting. That’s why the GOP should keep the moderate pair close and publicly praise them, the party leader explained, because they could ‘save this institution.’ …

“McConnell’s top lieutenant, John Thune of South Dakota, chats up both Democrats frequently on the floor and sometimes hangs out with them outside the Senate. He spoke of Manchin and Sinema in almost reverential terms on Wednesday. … Manchin didn’t quite return the compliments when asked about Republicans’ praise.”

— Burgess later followed up with a tweet laying out all policy areas where these two are central to negotiations.

Sinema is working with: JOHN CORNYN on an immigration bill … Romney on minimum wage … Capito on infrastructure.

Manchin is engaging: the White House on bipartisan infrastructure-jobs bill, not to mention the pay-fors … Dem leaders on S. 1, the Senate’s version of the House campaign reform package.

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.

WHOA — “U.S. could have 300 million extra vaccine doses by end of July, raising concerns over hoarding,” WaPo

— SPEAKING OF: “Unused Vaccines Are Piling Up Across U.S. as Some Regions Resist,” Bloomberg

Florida man Marc Caputo writes in: As soon as the Biden White House made it official last month that the president wanted former Florida Sen. BILL NELSON to lead NASA, the Democrat got an unsolicited call from his old colleague from across the aisle, Sen. MARCO RUBIO. The Republican didn’t just congratulate the Democrat on the nomination: Rubio said he wanted to help with the confirmation, according to knowledgeable sources who passed on this account. …

“I want to introduce you to the committee,” Rubio told Nelson, referring to the Commerce Committee, which meets Wednesday to take up Nelson’s confirmation.

“Marco, you don’t have to do that and mess yourself up with your base,” Nelson replied.

Rubio, though, said it would be his honor. One adviser said Rubio loved working with Nelson when they served together and wanted to repay the favor.

Despite Nelson’s concern, it’s a politically safe move for Rubio as well. Sure, Nelson lost to Sen. RICK SCOTT in 2018, but only in a squeaker of an election where the Republican outspent him. So it’s not as if Nelson’s unpopular. Though Rubio is up for reelection, so far big-name Democrats aren’t itching to challenge him. And a little bit of bipartisanship for his fellow University of Florida Gator looks like good politics and a rare act of bipartisan friendship in a Congress that sorely lacks it.

JAN. 6 RECONSTRUCTION — “17 requests for backup in 78 minutes,” WaPo: “The Post reviewed police radio communications, synchronized them with hours of footage and drew on testimony and interviews with police supervisors to understand how failures of preparation and planning played out that day. The examination reveals how police were hampered by an insufficient number of officers and shortages of less-lethal weapons and protective equipment and also provides a glimpse into communications breakdowns within the police response.”

AFTER-ACTION REPORT — “D.C. Guard misused helicopters in low-flying confrontation with George Floyd protesters, Army concludes,” WaPo

AMERICA’S PASTIME NO MORE? — “After Moving All-Star Game, MLB Becomes Latest League to Fall Out of Favor With Republicans,” Morning Consult: “New data from Morning Consult Brand Intelligence, which tracks consumer attitudes, indicates that MLB’s net favorability rating among Republicans plummeted from 47 percentage points in mid-March to just 12 points at the end of last week, following the league’s decision to relocate its events.”

MEDIAWATCH — “Tucker Carlson villainizes journalists on his top-rated show. Then the threats pour in,” WaPo: “Carlson cut his teeth jousting with the nation’s top elected officials and brand-name pundits on CNN’s ‘Crossfire’ 20 years ago. But as his influence within the conservative media ecosystem has grown, with some calling for him to run for president in 2024, he has increasingly found fodder in criticizing lesser-known media figures whom he presents to his audience as symbols of liberalism run amok. And a subset of viewers are inspired to personally harass those journalists with threatening messages.”

— “Reuters puts its website behind a paywall,” NYT: “After registration and a free preview period, a subscription to Reuters.com will cost $34.99 a month.”

— WOW: “Outgoing CBS News president held up ‘I hate my job’ sign in meeting,” Page Six: “A source said, ‘There was a CBS corporate budget meeting she was in — it dragged on and on — and at one point Susan [Zirinsky] wrote on a piece of paper “I hate my job” and just held it over her head in protest.’”

WHITE HOUSE ARRIVAL LOUNGE — Audrey Lopez is now director of Hispanic media on the White House comms team. She was previously a director at the Raben Group, and is a Chuck Schumer and Luis Gutierrez alum.

STAFFING UP — Nahal Toosi has the scoop on coming Biden nominations for top State Department jobs: Marcia Bernicat as director general of the Foreign Service and Karen Donfried, Barbara Leaf, Molly Phee, Michele Sison, Gentry Smith and Anne Witkowsky as assistant secretaries. More

TRANSITIONS — Mikayla Bodey has joined the Senate Agriculture Dems as a professional staff member, overseeing rural development and energy issues. She most recently was senior legislative assistant for Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.). … The Heritage Foundation is adding Kara Frederick as a research fellow in its Center for Technology Policy. She most recently was a research fellow for technology from the Center for a New American Security, and is a Facebook and DOD alum. … Timothy Day is joining Ice Miller Strategies as a principal in Columbus, Ohio. He previously was an SVP at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber Technology Engagement Center.