Subject: POLITICO Huddle: GOP TRIES TO REVIVE STALLED HEALTH CARE BILL – Top lawmakers want meeting with Trump Jr. – FRUSTRATIONS MOUNT OVER SANCTIONS BILL – McCain’s summer reading list
From: "POLITICO Huddle" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2017 06:04:00 -0600
List-Id: <1376319_6803043.xt.local>

07/11/2017 08:01 AM EDT

By Heather Caygle ([email-masked] or @heatherscope)
 
With assists from Seung Min Kim and Connor O'Brien 
 
THE RACE TO 50 - Senate GOP leaders are frantically trying to round up enough support in their caucus (remember, they can only lose two members) to vote on the Republican health care bill next week. The current schedule: a revised draft is expected as early as Thursday with a CBO score likely to follow as soon as Monday. "My gut assessment is we need to start voting. ... We need to get started, and the goal continues to be to do that next week," said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas). 
 
The latest: Republicans spent Monday sniping over an amendment being pushed by Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Mike Lee (Utah) which would allow the sale of cheap insurance plans outside Obamacare's regulatory regime, Burgess, Jen Haberkorn and Josh Dawsey report. Opposition from critics like Sens. Chuck Grassley (Iowa), Susan Collins (Maine) and Shelley Moore Capito (W. Va.) could sink the amendment.  But the proposal does have some interesting backers, like Sens. Jeff Flake of Arizona and Marco Rubio of Florida. 
 
Starting today, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell McConnell "is expected to brief the full 52-member caucus on proposed alterations sent to CBO regarding the Senate's draft bill, which is far from the requisite 50 votes." Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), No. 3 in leadership, "said the Cruz-Lee amendment will get a vote at some point next week, either to strip it out of McConnell's substitute if it is included in the GOP's draft, or to include it if leaders spurn it." Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8b66fe0bca33ac609be25342c66101215969fc2f09a7261db535f5bc569c43a2cc9ba0202a373d36647051526ba6addb7b461b61a09b5729 
 
Related: The Cruz-Lee plan could send Obamacare insurance markets "into a death spiral," Paul Demko reports. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8b66fe0bca33ac60e3e4c61310a97e79944cf2b5512f1a9eed640b5c167a928c0341011bfe6941d0ac882bfc624cc14ed524af7058c148f3 
 
FRUSTRATIONS MOUNT OVER STALLED SANCTIONS BILL - House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.), frustrated by the stalled Russian sanctions bill in his chamber, is threatening to introduce his own proposal if the House doesn't take up the Senate bill soon, Rachael and Elana report. "The California Republican's uneasiness underscores the growing anxiety among House GOP Russia hawks, who are concerned that the White House's clandestine lobbying campaign to water down the bill could make them seem soft on Russia," they write. Marc Short, the White House's top legislative liaison, was on the Hill Monday lobbying against key provisions in the Senate bill. More: 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8b66fe0bca33ac60f2a37dd4e86f7014d036efbb21d6aa674c327958b7e7127278a992b998b6bd56d18a94d3918ac77826137ef853ebe048 
 
LAWMAKERS WANT SIT DOWN WITH TRUMP'S SON - "Key lawmakers are calling for President Donald Trump's eldest son to submit to interviews with congressional investigators following the revelation that he met with a Russian lawyer during the 2016 presidential campaign," Austin reports. Donald Trump Jr. indicated in a tweet Monday afternoon that he would cooperate with the House and Senate intel panels, which are both ramping up their Russia investigations. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8b66fe0bca33ac60e32216bb233a38775b7de2a3aa81648cd28ace4d61a6f819c6b94de82bd59adb32cb861c33cf8bac42ebd8dfcd66011a 
 
Drip, drip: More details on Trump Jr. meeting - "Before arranging a meeting with a Kremlin-connected Russian lawyer he believed would offer him compromising information about Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump Jr. was informed in an email that the material was part of a Russian government effort to aid his father's candidacy, according to three people with knowledge of the email," Matt Apuzzo, Jo Becker, Adam Goldman and Maggie Haberman report. The New York Times: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8b66fe0bca33ac60fe930fd5c2cc411367332583dd4656c9be78b61791c49be475d919a36bf22c1babb51758d654187e2a6c9d0139a6a816 
 
Related: "On Russia, White House struggles to stick to a script," report Matthew Nussbaum and Josh Dawsey. Read more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8b66fe0bca33ac6076ba3797e5a7793a16d3d0d2274b3f08c10c5f373fa20e1f2bde5f447e44e84a9ad6f3d24c865cc0035f3d06690342ec
 
PUT YOUR TUESDAY FACE ON. Welcome to July 11 and thanks for reading POLITICO's Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill. 
 
MONDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Burgess' story kicking off the week with the latest on the Senate's Obamacare repeal effort took home the prize. 
 
NO GOP DEFECTIONS ON TRUMP JUDICIAL NOMINEES ... YET - Republican Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Kennedy of Louisiana raised a few eyebrows when they were highly critical of John K. Bush, Trump's nominee for the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, during his confirmation hearing last month. But both GOP senators tell Huddle that they plan to support Bush - dashing hopes from liberals who had sensed an opportunity to defeat a Trump judicial nominee.
 
Bat signal: "What we were really trying to do was send a signal to nominees that ... everybody's record should be scoured," said Tillis, who during the hearing didn't seem pleased with Bush's response that as a judge, impartiality is an "aspiration." Kennedy, who told Bush that he was "not impressed" with his blogging, also told Huddle: "I am supporting him, yes. I made that clear." Bush will face a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee later this week.
 
PERLMUTTER PULLS OUT OF GOV BID - Democratic Rep. Ed Perlmutter is expected to drop his bid for Colorado governor today and won't run for re-election in the House, scooped Peter Marcus for Colorado Politics. "The announcement from Perlmutter comes just as his first fundraising numbers are due and only three months after he joined the race in April." Rep. Jared Polis (D) still remains in the crowded governor's race. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=bec8b97217e2051e5103c5e04aeedb413dac2daeb1fe05135a67d22e21285afa06ae1060f2442eca8d86dbf6d7460fe891ac7d6c3c0adfe9 
 
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY - "Sen. Jon Tester raked in more than $2 million in the second quarter of this year, according to figures first provided to POLITICO - currently giving the Montana Democrat $4.7 million on hand for one of the most closely watched Senate races in the 2018 cycle," Seung Min scoops. "The $2 million figure for the second quarter of 2017 mirrors the amount of cash Tester raised in the first three months of the year. According to his campaign, 91 percent of the contributions are $100 or less." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=bec8b97217e2051ed20c14b91829f293f48ac4e270d9565c95c6e8df2c4e4463638e9d15a5868d2e6bc37267fe124e67139782d9b3294fe4 
 
DOZENS ARRESTED IN HILL HEALTH CARE PROTESTS - At least 80 people were arrested yesterday after protesting the GOP health care bill in multiple Republican offices on the Hill. "Sens. Ted Cruz, Jeff Flake, Rob Portman and Lamar Alexander, all Republicans, had protesters either inside or in the vicinity of their offices, holding signs and chanting their opposition," CNN reports. Emily Karl, Ted Barrett and Grace Hauck: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=bec8b97217e2051ec52adbb3aa4e4d40f912d0e25e301621df86dfd516a2fd12765edf3781e58fedc65cdf1c5897e0bcffaa812636550f1f 
 
DEMS WANT DATA ON ICE DETAINEES - Leaders of the House Quad-Caucuses are sending a letter to the top immigration enforcement official requesting data about detainees and detention centers be publicly available online and regularly updated. "Transparency is critical both because of ICE's long history of failing to safeguard the health and safety of women, men and children, and because the public has a right to know how taxpayer dollars are being spent," leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus wrote to acting ICE Director Thomas Homan. Homan told Congress last month ICE
 arrests are up 38 percent this year compared to 2016. Read the letter: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=bec8b97217e2051ee9b62c6ea488349e1d47757a8c76c1b99daf945e87f2469fc5c20d888c16534ec2e7a510d046a084e4c6102eb451a5c1 
 
SUMMER READING LIST - Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is out with his first ever summer reading list. But don't expect any lighthearted beach reads to make the cut. "From classic literature to military history, these are books I have read and reread over the years," he writes. A few of the options: All Quiet on the Western Front, For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Guns of August. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=bec8b97217e2051e0001b898e5cf9f2ae8b5e2ea8e6db8fac19fe492cb43cb4afe8b85084969e2b5d11b928a2c4cc642ff27fc1217dcc185 
 
FLOOR WATCH: HOUSE TACKLES NDAA - The House turns this week to the annual National Defense Authorization Act, which sets defense policy and authorizes just under $700 billion in funding for military programs. Over 400 amendments have been filed to the bill so far, which is set to be on the House floor Wednesday through Friday. Amendments include proposals on Russian election meddling, repealing the 2001 AUMF, the war against ISIS and a slew of other national security issues. The House Rules Committee meets tonight and Wednesday afternoon to set up debate on the must-pass bill and amendments.
 
MORRISEY LAUNCHES MOUNTAIN STATE BID - West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey made it official Monday, announcing he's challenging Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin and setting up a primary challenge against GOP Rep. Evan Jenkins. Kevin Robillard reports for Pros: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=bec8b97217e2051ec3cf177f7ca61b06e0efe3e923df039faee4a4a259d71a3d3585bf41f058be9d1deace166d638ed26faf50d1f59b6bd4 
 
TRUMP'S CAPITOL HILL FRENEMIES - Trump may change policy positions on a whim but there's one thing that seems pretty dug in: He doesn't forget those who spurned him in the past. Case in point: Trump said privately he'll spend $10 million to unseat his sometimes GOP foe Sen. Jeff Flake and the Arizona senator faces the possibility of multiple pro-Trump primary challenges. Perhaps hoping to avoid a similar situation, Alabama Rep. Martha Roby, who ditched Trump after the Access Hollywood tape, has changed her tune in recent months, embracing the president as she faces a primary challenge from a staunch Trump supporter back home. Alex Isenstadt: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=bec8b97217e2051ed309db8b6bd85c9167047746600d7c160ff78fa92b79e0730bf825ccc5808fb4f9ebe601f846d06afa905d6502c45880 
 
PEARCE RUNNING FOR N.M. GOV - Republican Rep. Steve Pearce will run for governor of New Mexico next year, challenging Democratic Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who announced her candidacy in December. Pearce is the first Republican to jump in the race, reports Michael Coleman of the Albuquerque Journal, who interviewed Pearce for the story. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=bec8b97217e2051e8f237401480adb12260d7d7e03221ff71402f1e53f723ea30300c4daa110a78c3fdf92359c1f28424605dbc10d647873 
 
JUST CAN'T QUIT YOU - Possible 2020 presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will be back in Iowa next month promoting his new book, the Iowa City Press-Citizen reports. "The reading marks Sanders' first return to Iowa City since the end of the 2016 Presidential election," Zach Berg reports. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=bec8b97217e2051e586c201ca9c4e86909635214de6424ad7c64b5962c3088c950c9bbca6f1981d61d661376755a1deda1bcf0a8e3b9f795 
 
LEE GOES 'OFF MESSAGE' - "Mike Lee is one of the Senate's most principled conservatives and deepest thinkers. But even he is willing to twist himself in knots to say, Yes, Donald Trump is one of us. ... It's more deduction than enthusiasm," Edward Isaac-Dovere reports in his latest Off Message podcast. Listen: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=bec8b97217e2051ef0b5021f227c7741b55f6f944d32ae93a19af278068892d25893699d8cece9d4d741d404f6761629a3f84581da61886a 
 
"SPOTTED" ON SNAP!  When POLITICO's new Playbook team took over a year ago today, they promised to do more than just "win the morning." In the past year, our DC Playbook has evolved from just a morning newsletter to now offer an audio podcast, an afternoon briefing and a growing events series designed to connect Washington with state and global power centers. Its daily readership has grown by 35 percent and now includes readers in all 50 states, senior officials at the White House, governors, every House and Senate office and top executives from Fortune 500 companies. 
 
Happy anniversary baby: To mark the occasion, have some fun with the Playbook team today and look for our secret Snapchat "SPOTTED" filter at select locations around Washington, D.C., including federal buildings, offices, popular restaurants and watering holes, metro stops, and more! Snap us your "Spotted" @POLITICO and we will feature your best snaps on Twitter! SIGN UP FOR PLAYBOOK: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=bec8b97217e2051e897525cfa7f124c961c37fcbe96c5afb1280b2789033e6c3b2c83773589881efefa1557cda0364240e8a3951e8316069
 
TODAY IN CONGRESS - The Senate will hold its caucus lunches starting at 12:30 p.m. before gaveling in for the day at 2:15 p.m. The House meets at 12 p.m. with votes starting at 6:30 p.m. Today's schedule: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=bec8b97217e2051eaff9da67ab5154ccf65002e5eafd3cb31a45a63ad863c7c1644fb4a497c3fcca84663628e176c072328d7c6cf0cb8b77 
 
AROUND THE HILL - Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduce a bill aimed at improving treatment for incarcerated women during a 10 a.m. press conference in S-115. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) holds his weekly pen and pad at 12 p.m. in H-144. 
 
Sens. David Perdue (R-Ga.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Kennedy (R-La.) Mike Lee (R-Utah), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Luther Strange (R-Ala.) hold a press conference calling on the Senate to cancel August recess (a follow up to a letter they sent at the end of June) at 12 p.m. in S-316. Vice President Mike Pence will be on the Hill for the weekly Senate GOP caucus lunch at 1 p.m. 
 
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes (McConnell's challenger in 2014) participate in a press conference on voter security at 2:45 p.m. in S-325. 
 
MONDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER - Noah Ramirez and Christopher Simmons were the first to guess that two people, George Schultz and Elliot Richardson, held four different cabinet-level positions. Schultz had stints as secretary of State, Treasury and Labor and OMB director. Richardson served as attorney general and secretary of Commerce, Defense and Health. 
 
Jack Lew served as White House chief of staff, Treasury secretary and had two different stints as OMB director. James Baker was White House chief of staff in two administrations and secretary of State and Treasury. 
 
TODAY'S TRIVIA - This painting of a famous statesman was originally commissioned to hang in his home state capitol following a major U.S. war. The painting, at some point sent to New York (not the home state in question) before being discovered decades later in a storage unit, now hangs in a Capitol stairway. Who is depicted in the painting and about how tall is the portrait? The first person to correctly answer gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send answers my way: [email-masked] 
 
GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning. 
 
To view online:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=bec8b97217e2051e743f14e281b6a0a9cb4c522b1aa7c6cc29ac79b14b071bf7a302f9af2609486e9d53936adc45aa31d4a120e15f33287d
 To change your alert settings, please go to http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=bec8b97217e2051eb614a16f0813e0d5e76ddb42ef35c29ba3561ce2eaf27e7cdea16a9e9f4d55a10aeb2f95a163846131b8bc34680f7ba9 or http://click.politicoemail.com/profile_center.aspx?qs=c1c81b2ef644fde1dd3c1f6178ef6a8ea3ee660992025bd409580e7f5ee9104e2ea572fa198c91f28006977d76bb574fc2eeb58887d650e4
This email was sent to [email-masked] by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA

To unsubscribe,http://www.politico.com/_unsubscribe?e=0000015d-3186-dfb7-a37d-bfffeb6e0000&u=0000014e-f0fe-dd93-ad7f-f8fffbc40000&s=e029f14dc7ec5ba1290ed67ee6a9b8a9e9eadb9c81b7190363c20ca55419329f1bed002e599c0c1fbd4e1b50230f25b197626b159c05f73dabd8b9ffc556549d