Subject: POLITICO Huddle, presented by the Coalition to Protect America's Health Care: THE SENATE IS GOING NUCLEAR – House meets on Obamacare repeal – GOP BOYCOTTS RUSSIAN MEETING – Record-breaking haul in Georgia race
From: "POLITICO Huddle" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2017 06:11:18 -0600
List-Id: <1376319_6503307.xt.local>

04/06/2017 08:06 AM EDT

By Heather Caygle ([email-masked] or @heatherscope) 

With assists from Seung Min Kim, Burgess Everett and Daniel Lippman 

TODAY IS THE DAY - After months of build up the Senate is expected to trigger the nuclear option today, killing the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees and forever altering the storied institution. Action kicks off at 11 a.m. when senators vote to end debate on Neil Gorsuch's nomination. The vote, which requires the support of 60 senators, is expected to fail. 

Then Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will move to trigger the nuclear option - expect a series of procedural votes that eventually results in nixing the 60-vote threshold for Supreme Court nominees. A final vote to confirm Gorsuch won't happen until tomorrow. 

Enough already: Far from vowing revenge, some Senate Democrats are just ready to move on, Seung Min and Burgess report. "There's a healthy feeling in both caucuses that we've got to put this behind us and legislate," said Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin. "There's more to the Senate than Supreme Court nominations. And as important as they are, we have other opportunities."

Senate Democrats could seek payback, dragging out the consideration of the roughly 1,200 presidential nominations that require confirmation. But Democrats are indicating they don't want to go there. "We're not looking for dilatory procedures," said Sen. Ben Cardin, top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee. 

But in case Democrats change their minds, GOP Sen. James Lankford is quietly circulating a proposal that would slash the number of hours that senators could debate before a confirmation vote occurs. And other GOP senators, after employing similar tactics following a 2013 Democratic rules change, are trying to make the case publicly that it isn't worth it: "We moved Obama's people through like that. We didn't go through this 30-hour shit on everybody," Sen. John McCain said. 

Seung Min and Burgess with the story: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=097f6011f1a45825f1c5c0b6cdbf671af4c2d26304dab3621cb3fb9a6a202b25aa7477003f8cacb28b86fa4a6e631185 And more SCOTUS news after the jump. 

WE AIN'T DONE YET - The House Rules Committee will hold an emergency meeting this morning on the GOP plan to dismantle Obamacare, right before lawmakers are slated to head home for two weeks with nothing to show for seven years of repeal promises. News of the last minute meeting came just hours after House Speaker Paul Ryan and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy met at the White House with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. 

The plan: The committee will vote on an amendment that would create so-called "high-risk pools" for people that are very sick. The idea, from House Freedom Caucus Reps. Gary Palmer and David Schweikert, has gained some traction in the conference this week as a way to lower premiums for healthy people while still providing some safety net for those with pre-existing conditions. But Democrats argue states have tried this for years and the pools are expensive and don't work. 

What's not going to happen: Don't expect the House to vote on a repeal plan this week. Lawmakers are still scheduled to head home for Easter recess after a quick round of floor votes this morning. Rachael with more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=097f6011f1a458259c29894cf7333fa9bb1ddc8511ce20a799906ef68bc2ce01d79e4f75cfd062389e40b4ef07a811f4 

GRAB THE POPCORN - House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows and Reps. Jim Jordan and Justin Amash will be in the hot seat this morning across from Playbook's Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman. Doors open at 8 a.m. at at the W Hotel (515 15th Street, NW). Or watch the livestream:  http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=097f6011f1a4582549a25478e30b4388e48001ee874a980ff211785465e797370ca6bbcd52bc9dc1c4d91f6845b1dc1a

TURN DOWN FOR WHAT? NOTHING, EXCEPT SNACKS AND SLEEP. Welcome to April 6 and thanks for reading POLITICO's Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill. 

WEDNESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Bres and Burgess' story about Gorsuch copying other's work was the winner. Matt Fuller's video of Chad Pergram talking to Rep. Tiberi's mom on the phone was a close second. 

MORE DEM REGRETS OVER 2013 NUKE OPTION - As the Senate careens toward the nuclear option later today, more Democratic senators are sounding some remorse for their decision to go nuclear for nearly all other nominations back in 2013. The latest Democrat with regrets: Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, who delivered a lengthy speech that mostly warned of the consequences gutting the filibuster for Supreme Court picks.

"In 2013, after unprecedented Republican obstruction of highly qualified nominees, I voted with the Democratic majority to end the 60-vote threshold for most presidential nominations, invoking what's known as the nuclear option," Bennet said during his floor speech. "Although Republicans were wrong to abuse the rules, Democrats were wrong to change them."

Bennet is one of four Senate Democrats - the others are Sens. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Joe Donnelly of Indiana - who plan to vote to advance Gorsuch's nomination vote later today.

-GOP Sen. John McCain also has serious feelings about the changes and people like McConnell who try to argue this is good for the Senate: "Idiot, whoever says that is a stupid idiot, who has not been here and seen what I've been through and how we were able to avoid that on several occasions," McCain said Wednesday. And he wasn't done there. The Washington Post's Paul Kane: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=097f6011f1a45825295fd791ade66ea863993409b57a2f8ac74cb8f370c10326aadb0b1d34d19d346b4631f80db833b7 

GET ON WITH IT - Republicans are growing frustrated with the White House's slow push to fill out the administration, calling on them to "speed up the pace" on nominations. The vast majority of the 553 key positions, including deputy, assistant and associate secretary posts, remain unfilled, James Arkin reports for Real Clear Politics. And without nominations to process and the Obamacare repeal stalled in the House, "We're going to have some holes in the calendar," Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn said. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=097f6011f1a45825b5980b68ef77ddedac2c1d14483ec3bf3ef954c325f265dc8f5307f0889fa7cafb54219834b00c14 

SASSE KEEPS IT REAL - Ask Nebraska GOP Sen. Ben Sasse why Donald Trump won and he has a simple answer: "I would argue pretty vociferously that it's also because of who his opponent was," Sasse, a frequent Trump critic, told the New York Times. "If Joe Biden would have run against Donald Trump, Biden would have won in a landslide."

** A message from The Coalition to Protect America's Health Care: The Coalition to Protect America's Health Care fights back against congressional and executive actions that threaten America's hospitals. When our caregivers, our patients, or our communities are at risk, our supporters speak out and advocate. Stand up for your hospital by joining our community today. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=097f6011f1a458251802dd93ca5f8bb3c2e2b59b994a6baee82dec48ffdfbb455739479172dc2da594391c510c1f3640 **

HOLY MONEYBAGS, BATMAN - Democrat Jon Ossoff has raised more than $8.3 million in the crowded race to fill HHS Secretary Tom Price's former seat, an eye-popping sum for any House candidate. Ossoff has $2.1 million cash on hand heading into the April 18 jungle primary. Around 95 percent of Ossoff's donors are from out of state, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=097f6011f1a458252176383173d8ede2a624cffb8f6d665e7c34beef7bbd6782b86857fb682c49010bfb2b0fbdbe9e1b 

WHAT HILL STAFFERS ARE CLICKING: The Twitter account du jour, @JJordansJacket. "All I want is to be worn," reads the tag line. Has anybody asked Rep. Jim Jordan what he thinks about it? 

GOP BOYCOTTS DEM OUTREACH - "Republicans boycotted a Wednesday briefing on Russian intelligence methods organized by Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, who had hoped the committee's members could gather in a bipartisan manner to hear non-controversial testimony from an expert," Tim Mak reports for the Daily Beast. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=097f6011f1a458256c804644eb2a7b2ab9c67c1c1181e4866feaa7a1572cac638c751643698ced80597e0dd487c18d4a 

SO LONG, FAREWELL - Mike Long, a long-time aide to House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, is leaving the Hill after this week for a big move to California. Long had a little going away shindig at the Capitol Wednesday and Bres, one of Long's best buddies and daily Cups partner, is still struggling to process the departure. "Mike Long is the finest man who has ever lived," Bres told Huddle. 

SPOTTED: California Rep. Alan Lowenthal riding the Red Line Wednesday, exiting at the NoMa stop. 

WELCOME TO THE WORLD - Laura Stevens Kent, VP for federal advocacy at the Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania, and Drew Kent, chief of staff for Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) welcomed Catherine Stevens Kent, 8 pounds 1 oz, Wednesday afternoon.

TODAY IN CONGRESS - The House meets at 9 a.m. with last votes before the recess around 10 a.m. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=097f6011f1a45825053e864bac56c96914a87a683dd6941f84e52d0ad7ec5f765628938dad47f01a98b9b68731aa1a43 The Senate meets at 10 a.m. with the nuclear showdown over Gorsuch's nomination starting at 11 a.m. 

AROUND THE HILL - House Speaker Paul Ryan holds his weekly press briefing at 9:45 a.m. in HVC Studio A. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus holds a pen and pad at 10 a.m. RSVP to Carlos Paz. 

Sens. Patty Murray, Jeff Merkley, Richard Blumenthal, Mazie Hirono and Chris Van Hollen and grassroots advocates hold a 10 a.m. rally to oppose Gorsuch's nomination in 216 Hart. 

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi holds her weekly press avail at 10:45 a.m. in HVC Studio A. 

OFF THE HILL - Sen. Chris Coons will participate in the Q&A at the Brookings Institution on Russia starting at 9 a.m. 

WEDNESDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER - John Sullivan guessed that the late Rep. Bill Natcher still holds the record for the longest consecutive voting streak at 18,401 votes. Rep. Steve Womack holds the record for current members of Congress, with a 4,356 voting streak, according to his office. 

TODAY'S TRIVIA - John with today's question: What former congressional committee chair also has served in four different Cabinet-level or high-ranking White House positions? Name this person and the jobs. The first person to correctly answer gets a shout out in tomorrow's Huddle. And don't forget, send suggestions for trivia questions my way: [email-masked] 

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** A message from The Coalition to Protect America's Health Care: America's hospitals provide critical, often life-saving care - and other primary and preventative care services - within and outside their four walls. But that hasn't stopped Congress from cutting vital federal funding for patient care. These cuts make it harder for hospital staff to do their jobs, prevent hospitals from getting beyond their four walls to better serve those who rely on them, and increase wait times and reduced access to medical technologies. We can't afford any more cuts to patient care. Stand up for your hospital and protects access to the best quality health care for all people. Join the Coalition to
 Protect America's Health Care today. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=097f6011f1a4582507f97a8abf19f74fc3878af7ce9b6d503d2915fa0a1ec6f4393f94373161f26e08b7b90822b45d35 **

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