Subject: POLITICO Huddle, presented by the National Confectioners Association: HEALTH CARE DEAL COMES DOWN TO TRUMP – GOP eyes budget victory – FINANCE DEMS HEAD TO WH – Bannon courts GOP megadonors
From: "POLITICO Huddle" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2017 05:59:43 -0600
List-Id: <1376319_7133546.xt.local>

10/18/2017 07:57 AM EDT

By Heather Caygle ([email-masked] or @heatherscope)
 
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO TRUMP - Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) unveiled a bipartisan plan to stabilize Obamacare Tuesday. But the proposal - which would restore Obamacare subsidies the White House nixed last week - only has a chance of passing Congress if President Donald Trump goes all in to convince skeptical Republicans to back the deal. And right now Trump is all over the map. After declaring Obamacare "virtually dead" earlier Tuesday, he seemed to express support for the Alexander-Murray plan to prop up the law in the afternoon (although he deemed it a "short-term solution") before changing his tune during a speech at the Heritage Foundation last night. 
 
Trump at Heritage: "While I commend the bipartisan work done by Sens. Alexander and Murray - and I do commend it - I continue to believe Congress must find a solution to the Obamacare mess instead of providing bailouts to insurance companies," he told the audience.
 
Why Trump's wishy-washiness won't work: "Getting the deal through would require a sustained, focused lobbying effort on Capitol Hill, where Republicans are facing a biting political calculus," Jen Haberkorn and Adam Cancryn report. "They're still stinging from spending all of this year in a draining but fruitless effort to repeal and replace Obamacare - the law that congressional Republicans have been trying to uproot for seven years." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=0603e879475baaaaa14f44ea614adf526072ede7dac11a80cc940af91bb4304d7368ef8864ac8e4510d235e2eb5120476b7f1e04ac3e712d 
 
GOP EYES BUDGET VICTORY - The Senate is on track to pass its budget resolution early Friday, a major victory for Republicans in their quest to overhaul the tax code. Sen. Thad Cochran's return to Washington Tuesday - a reliable "yes" for GOP leaders - helped ease worries about a nail-biting vote. Even with passage all but guaranteed, Democrats still want to make Republicans squirm by planning a series of amendment votes that will put them on the spot about potential cuts to Medicare and Medicaid to help pay for the GOP tax plan. Elana, Seung Min and Sarah Ferris with more on the Dem strategy: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=0603e879475baaaa1b5c546a5cda1942f943955fc51a007f4b5d4402bc76ef2aa385af244d0f5ece7d2ffbf037e0a856259ccab4ede76845 
 
Wreck it Rand: GOP leaders had hoped to have all 52 of their members vote yes on the budget in a show of unity. But that's unlikely to happen. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) says he's voting against the plan unless GOP leaders trim billions of dollars in spending. Paul's demand would likely guarantee other Republicans vote against the budget, including Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who would oppose the any cuts in defense spending. Paul spent a good portion of the day Tuesday in a middle-schoolesque Twitter tiff with Graham over each others' conservative bonafides. Burgess with more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=0603e879475baaaa6d29ddfb5802fb973d195fc799b47b61a7467f237fee9356b12129353af552b1c3bb4315356d469efc6e8fb63155d4e2 
 
SHOW ME THE MONEY - Steve Bannon has spent the past few weeks barnstorming the country, hearing from the GOP's biggest donors and hoping to capitalize on their anger against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his team. Bannon wants to court these donors to help finance his primary challenges against GOP incumbents next year - or at the very least, convince them to stop giving to McConnell-aligned causes, Alex Isenstadt reports. For now, GOP megadonors like billionaire Bernie Marcus, a co-founder of Home Depot, are looking to see if Republicans can get tax reform passed by the end of the year. But Marcus and others haven't ruled out bankrolling Bannon's effort next year if the GOP
 fails to get anything done on the Hill. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=0603e879475baaaa0d0a2d124f1e7778056df95eaacad28167ddac71c7daf13cfc412bcd6f5c6597340ae0afdaabc5a79b77a5746c5641db 
 
And don't miss this yarn from Annie Karni about how several of the anti-establishment candidates Bannon is looking at are actually receiving help from the GOP apparatus: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=0603e879475baaaa9c60641c4f2ee2c50e93f8a8ebba60151bd0a3d0b87dacf14294889dc9661b8dbbb1dc77894d9b88c418b0a33fe9ba99 
 
WHOA FOR WEDNESDAY. Welcome to Oct. 18 and thanks for tuning in to POLITICO's Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill. 
 
MONEY IN YOUR EARS: POLITICO's new Money podcast brings you to the intersection of Washington and Wall Street with the most influential minds on the economy. Every Wednesday, Ben White will help you understand the economic and financial policies that move markets. While money never sleeps, you have to - so let Ben keep you up to speed and turn dollars into sense. The first POLITICO Money podcast, premiering with our launch sponsor, Morgan Stanley, features Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Click HERE to subscribe.
 
TUESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Seung Min's story about Trump's so-far successful efforts to remake the judiciary branch was the winner. 
 
TRUMP HOSTS SENATE FINANCE DEMS - Trump will huddle with members of the Senate Finance Committee today at 11:30 a.m. for a meeting on tax reform. Not all members of the panel made the cut, but several Democrats in states Trump won are on the invite list including Sens. Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), Bob Casey (Pa.) and Sherrod Brown (Ohio). Senate Finance ranking member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) also received an invite, albeit delayed, Aaron Lorenzo reports for Pros. It's unclear how the meeting will go given Trump was blasting Democrats on Twitter just this morning, saying they'll only support tax increases, not cuts. 
 
HOLD FOR THE PRESIDENT - Trump has spent the last few days embroiled in a controversy of his own making about whether past presidents reached out to the families of fallen soldiers (they did). Now we have an idea of what the president says when he makes those calls, according to one lawmaker. In a call with the widow of one of the four U.S. soldiers gunned down at the Nigerian border earlier this month, Trump told her, "He knew what was signing up for, but I guess it hurts anyway," according to the account of Rep. Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.). Wilson was riding in the car with soldier's widow and heard the call on speakerphone, Philip Rucker and Dan Lamothe report for the Washington Post.
 More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=0603e879475baaaa56aacf86eb83bd2d47a1cb0715ce28b782e377448d6bdbe33189d1c8c5117c9935a3d5c314182c2f7d8493781e18c552 
 
Trump responds this morning, via Twitter: "Democrat Congresswoman totally fabricated what I said to the wife of a soldier who died in action (and I have proof). Sad!"

** A message from the National Confectioners Association - #AlwaysATreat: Leading global chocolate and candy companies are coming together to provide more information, options, and support as consumers enjoy their favorite treats. It's the first step on our journey to help people manage their sugar intake and ensure that they feel empowered to make informed choices. Learn more at AlwaysATreat.com. **
 
WAR OF WORDS - Trump and Sen. John McCain traded barbs on Tuesday after the president was asked to respond to McCain's comments about "half-baked, spurious nationalism" earlier in the week. "I'm being very, very nice but at some point I fight back and it won't be pretty," Trump told WMAL, bemoaning McCain's vote against the GOP's Obamacare repeal plan this summer. McCain, when told of Trump's comments, offered a simple response: "I have faced tougher adversaries." Remember, since Republicans only have a 52-seat majority, McCain will be a key vote that could give or deny Trump a legislative victory on tax reform. The AP's Ken Thomas: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=0603e879475baaaa180358d994b771e3a55885b5d87c6bc1fdf9e997c9b352ec660a136ebab67c1e31220fbb373a15efeab604715a937798 
 
SAY IT AIN'T SO, CUPS CAN'T GO - Cups, Capitol Hill's iconic meeting spot (and last good place for coffee, if you ask Huddle) could be on the verge of closing. "Charles and Kathy Chung have been operating Cups since 2001 and their contract has to be renewed every four years," Roll Call's Alex Gangitano explains. This year they are competing with other dining companies for the space, including Sodexo, which took over food operations in the House in 2015 to many complaints. The Architect of the Capitol is expected to make a decision on Cups' fate next month. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=0603e879475baaaafb929bc1f8cf2a5b80978eba7f42da5a6f41689b393f11012762f6cd5d1aa05bfe4433f8524886113376d228db91ab70 
 
HUNTER'S LEGAL FEES MOUNT - California GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter has spent nearly half a million dollars on legal fees this year amid an ongoing FBI probe into his alleged misuse of campaign funds. Hunter spent nearly $138,000 on six D.C. and San Diego law firms in the last quarter, exceeding the $91,000 Hunter raised for his reelection during that same time period, according to his most recent FEC report. "Previous reports showed he spent $336,664 with seven law firms in the first six months of the year," Sarah Wire reports for the L.A. Times. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=0603e879475baaaa7856eda0cd708d2e1e5a65f1aaef51441645de6a2e2f9e5675997a6ec1c036f7f0b3e18b97a62b33b9f0c67f0f34c86e 
 
MARINO WITHDRAWS FROM DRUG CZAR POST - Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.) withdrew from consideration to be the administration's next drug czar after a Washington Post/60 Minutes investigation detailed his role in getting a bill passed to weaken the DEA's ability to fight the opioid epidemic. Marino had not been making plans for reelection and it's unclear if he'll seek a fifth term. The Washington Post with more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=0603e879475baaaaa2f06d8d78b8974c9ec95191b49c59f5420dfe82ebc2585d336da99d668c99c5272cbb6e2eaf46fc55061b1b61053d9f 
 
CONFIRMATION WATCH - Trump is leaning toward nominating Alex Azar, a veteran of the department, to serve as HHS secretary. Azar worked as HHS general counsel and deputy secretary during the George W. Bush administration but has spent most of the last decade in the drug industry, a key sector he'll regulate if he leads the department. If nominated and confirmed by the Senate, Azar would replace Tom Price, who resigned last month amid a scandal over frequent taxpayer-funded private jet travel. Andrew Restuccia, Eliana Johnson, Sarah Karlin-Smith and Josh Dawsey: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=0603e879475baaaaea2804dc34f339c4c9e2dfff3f59669cd21616d97be987a6bc01967b8fee623abf6787b81eb667373aa82918b2391283 
 
ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES - Amy Graham has joined Sen. Todd Young's (R-Ind.) office as communications director. Graham previously worked for Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). She replaces Cassie Smedile, who left Young's office to work as press secretary for the Republican National Committee. 
 
TODAY IN CONGRESS - The Senate meets at 9:30 a.m. with two roll call votes related to budget amendments at 3 p.m. Additional roll call votes are possible today. The House is out until Oct. 23.
 
AROUND THE HILL - Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) will participate in a discussion with Axios about health care with the event livestreamed on C-SPAN 2 starting at 8 a.m. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee during a hearing on DOJ oversight starting at 10 a.m. Livestream: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=0603e879475baaaabb5f24c14ced0efb8ce6c372c1bbb0653040c56a37c2c91a033662f9e140c7cb065c54aa068b852fd0a5842cf9670ed2 
 
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) hold a press conference on how wealthy Cabinet members could benefit from the GOP's tax plan at 11 a.m. in the Senate swamp. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) will deliver her maiden speech on the Senate floor at 5:30 p.m. on the mass shooting in Las Vegas. 
 
Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) debate the GOP tax plan on CNN starting at 9 p.m. 
 
TUESDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER - James Reed was first to guess that President Gerald Ford testified before the House about his reasons for pardoning Richard Nixon 43 years ago yesterday. And for those of you who guessed Woodrow Wilson, he did answer questions from senators but at the White House, not the Capitol. 
 
TODAY'S TRIVIA - Steve Finley with today's question: This first-term senator decided not to run again just months before the election after several women accused him of sexual assault in a newspaper report. Name this person. Send your best guess my way: [email-masked]. The first person to correctly answer gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. 
 
GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning. 
 
** A message from the National Confectioners Association - #AlwaysATreat: We've always created transparent, fun, and great-tasting treats. By 2022, Mars Wrigley Confectionery, Nestl&eacute; USA, Ferrero, Lindt, Ghirardelli, Russell Stover, and Ferrara Candy Company will work together to make half of their individually wrapped products available in sizes that contain 200 calories or less per pack. And, 90 percent of the best-selling treats made by these companies will have calorie information printed right on the front of the pack. During the same time period, the newly established AlwaysATreat.com will evolve into a digital resource full of easy-to-use information for consumers to better
 understand the unique role that chocolate and candy can play in a happy, balanced lifestyle. Learn more at AlwaysATreat.com. **
 
To view online:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=0603e879475baaaad1ae92342162cef84ba60c7b3219e8b50b321b3a4ff5461c2636f6be0a7189e38c316d9c2ce9a947de2c7d054609d341
 To change your alert settings, please go to http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=0603e879475baaaab9276b980eea5185471c977f366dfab84183544533cbdd23e3719afce247be621df089e07253a5a62b2881d7b0c70aa9 or http://click.politicoemail.com/profile_center.aspx?qs=c1c81b2ef644fde1dd3c1f6178ef6a8ea3ee660992025bd47651fef6a17526add8e03592da233c539a68628e24db4e9c66173406c820b3f5
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=0000015f-2f58-dd97-abdf-af5bf5880000&u=0000014e-f0fe-dd93-ad7f-f8fffbc40000&s=103ec9f66182a940dae5d6dddfdd6efeff4841eef6aebe57aa0c8c20eccc22c9cb6b747f0896d1382ba5246f73833ec464a1dd5549f4d13a9bdc34429244e950