Subject: POLITICO Huddle, presented by America's 340B Hospitals: TALKS TO AVOID ANOTHER SHUTDOWN COLLAPSE -- Republican Walter Jones passes away -- KLOBUCHAR JUMPS INTO 2020 -- Omar ignites anti-Semitism controversy
From: "POLITICO Huddle" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2019 07:03:12 -0600
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02/11/2019 08:01 AM EDT
        
By MELANIE ZANONA ([email-masked]; @MZanona)

        
With an assist from Andrew Desiderio

BORDER TALKS BREAK DOWN -- Bipartisan negotiations over a border security package hit an 11th hour snag over the weekend, with just five days left until government funding runs dry. The sticking points: not only have lawmakers been unable to pin down a topline number for border barrier funding, but the two sides are also deeply divided over the number of detention beds for illegal immigrants. Democrats are pushing for a cap on beds, which they argue will force the Trump administration to prioritize deportation for criminals instead of using the beds to separate migrant families. But the GOP maintains the cap will prevent violent criminals from being held in detention.

While President Donald Trump claims the Democratic demand came from "out of the blue", the reality is that both parties have long been at odds over the divisive issue, which has routinely emerged as a sticking point in funding debates. And now Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is also dealing with a new class of progressive firebrands who have been adamant about decreasing funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

What's next? If dealmakers can't overcome the impasse soon, there are just a handful of options on the table: a stopgap funding bill, a national emergency declaration by Trump, another government shutdown or some combination of the three. The president may offer some clues about which route he's leaning toward when he heads to a political rally in El Paso tonight. Much more from Marianne, Heather and Burgess: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5663c500d26717b6c0427de14540df641949ef5e84bf74871692a3ece7c53a5a2c3e2daf4149bd1c4ffcec9a00c0c0d9 

RIP WALTER JONES -- Longtime Rep. Walter Jones passed away Sunday on his 76th birthday. The North Carolina Republican, a vocal critic of the Iraq war who famously pushed to rename french fries as "freedom fries", earned a reputation on Capitol Hill for his fierce independence and willingness to buck his own party. Jones, who came to Congress with the 1994 Republican revolution, voted against both the GOP's tax bill and Obamacare repeal effort. "He was never afraid to take a principled stand," his office said. "Some may not have agreed with him, but all recognized that he did what he thought was right." Sarah with the obit: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5663c500d26717b6c952d5e1bcf7ce9c13c6cafe3a84ce6fefafc382a3335b738493fdc90637d35ec7664d254a83e7e6 

Meanwhile, memorial services for the late former Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) will take place on Tuesday in Michigan, where former Vice President Joe Biden, Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) will deliver eulogies. There will also be services on Thursday in D.C., where former President Bill Clinton, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and former Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio.) will speak.

Related read: "Pelosi and Dingell rivalry reflects the evolution of the Democratic Party," by Paul Kane of The Washington Post: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5663c500d26717b6885b175b88b491ffab34cd877e7980e9b0cf4497d1c0073166450134b01db39bdf774e7c1b4fb0f6 

VA DEMS PRESS FAIRFAX TO RESIGN -- A flood of Virginia Democrats is now calling on Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax (D) to step down after a second accuser came forward with an allegation of sexual assault. That includes almost all of the state's congressional delegation, former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and several presidential candidates. And a Democratic state House member may submit articles of impeachment against Fairfax if he doesn't step down on his own. Fairfax denies the allegations and has called for an investigation to clear his name. But some lawmakers are uncomfortable only punishing the African-American official while the two officials in the legislature facing blackface
 controversies skate by. More from Marc Caputo, Anita Kumar and Maggie Severns: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5663c500d26717b6659913c326f8c3c5657ecd0aa93eba752a278e8ce518539061d7091f70134965c2b21391ef5e1890 

HAPPY MONDAY! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Feb. 11, where we're still getting a kick out of this SNL sketch on the "Women of Congress" (featuring Nancy "Madame Clap Back" Pelosi and Alexandria "I say what I meme" Ocasio-Cortez, to name a few.)

FRIDAY'S MOST CLICKED: The letter from House committee chairmen claiming acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker failed to return money to the victims of an alleged scam by World Patent Marketing.

** A message from Americas 340B Hospitals: At no cost to taxpayers, the 340B program is vital to America's health because it allows hospitals that serve vulnerable patients to address the health care needs of their communities. Learn more. **

WEEKLY OVERSIGHT WATCH -- Last week, House Democrats gave us a preview of how they'll handle oversight of the Trump administration. They grilled acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker and brought two Trump scandals - family separation and the president's tax returns - back to the front pages, drawing sharp criticism from the commander-in-chief on Twitter. You thought last week was crazy busy? Ha.

FIRST UP ... the House Rules Committee will meet about the Yemen War Powers resolution, which the Foreign Affairs Committee advanced last week on a party-line vote. Hoyer's office says the full House will vote on the measure later this week. It's expected to overwhelmingly pass, setting up a vote in the Senate and, potentially, Trump's first-ever veto.

A BIG DAY ON TUESDAY for the family-separation issue ... the House Judiciary Committee will grill top officials from HHS, DOJ, ICE and CBP. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) spotlighted the policy during Friday's hearing with Whitaker while her colleagues focused on the Mueller investigation. Separately, the House Oversight Committee will hold a hearing on the Trump administration's refusal to turn over some documents relating to the policy.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE ... The Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government is bringing in the GSA administrator, who will likely face questions about an IG report stating that the agency failed to consider the Constitution's emoluments clauses when it allowed the Trump International Hotel to retain its lease on the Old Post Office Building.

THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE will meet on Wednesday to examine the Trump administration's response to the crisis in Venezuela. Elliott Abrams, the U.S. special representative for Venezuela, will testify as questions linger over whether the U.S. will use military force to push out Nicolas Maduro.

ALSO ON WEDNESDAY ... the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation will look into the recent government shutdown and its effects on commercial aviation. You'll recall that a ground stop at New York's LaGuardia Airport pushed lawmakers and the president to end the shutdown within hours.

KLOBUCHAR ALL IN FOR 2020 -- Sen. Amy Klobuchar became the latest Democrat to jump into the crowded presidential race, making a formal announcement on Sunday from her (cold and snowy) home state of Minnesota. She has a reputation on Capitol Hill for being smart, pragmatic and "Minnesota nice," which has earned her unexpected support from her Republican colleagues, report Burgess and Marianne. But Klobuchar's rollout has been overshadowed by reports of her being tough on her staff, which she dismissed as sexist. Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5663c500d26717b6d012d4b20973c64c03615d4cc821f113879f76396aca0679186cef96a573cbdfb8bfc2c0764e917f 

Related: "'Breakthrough moment': Anti-Trump fires forge historic field of 2020 women," from Natasha Korecki and Charlie Mahtesian: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5663c500d26717b6db3e1f4dccfa6fa686a2fb671149b4a715284bf921f01dd0b55eddafa11ff7a92fbc4cc614c0c4ca 

Meanwhile, Rep. Seth Moulton told BuzzFeed News he is considering a run for president - and has discussed the idea with former President Barack Obama. "I'm not definitely running, but I'm going to take a very hard look at it," Moulton said. The Massachusetts Democrat, who led an anti-Pelosi rebellion last year, spoke to Democrats in New Hampshire last weekend. More from Lissandra Villa: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5663c500d26717b65dfff94c256e3ae76f0d7c1d235d5590eef5a01f4a082d8c7a3b2b2f4528e23649e6d8f570fe8876 

OMAR IN HOT WATER -- Freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar is under fire for a recent tweet seen by some as anti-Semitic. The Minnesota Democrat, one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, suggested Sunday night that Republican support for Israel is fueled by campaign donations from Jewish lobbying groups. While Omar has been repeatedly attacked by the GOP for her critical views toward Israel, her latest remarks earned rebukes from members of her own party. "Congresswoman Omar's statements are deeply hurtful to Jews, including myself," said freshman Rep. Max Rose (D-N.Y.).

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has threatened to take disciplinary action against Omar if Democratic leadership remains silent. One option under consideration, according to his office, is forcing a vote on a resolution from Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) condemning anti-Semitism. And GOP Conference Chair Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) called on Omar to lose her seat on the Foreign Affairs Committee. Bres with the dispatch: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5663c500d26717b6e3598a31d86ad93a6570d1936e7474c45b8b6bef4360392ba9f873a03dae50a642d5edfe97702808 

GOP REP'S INSTAGRAM DRAWS SCRUTINY -- Using his personal Instagram account, Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) liked a series of controversial posts, according to screenshots provided by the liberal group American Bridge 21st Century. One of the posts called to end Black History Month, another one mocked transgender people using a reference to 9/11 and a third implied violence toward socialists. A spokeswoman for LaMalfa, however, chalked it up to "accidental likes while scrolling through his Instagram feed."

KHASHOGGI FALLOUT -- The White House blew by a Friday deadline to submit a report to Congress on whether Saudi Arabia's crown prince was behind the assassination of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to The Washington Post. The Senate, which is weighing whether to impose sanctions on the Kingdom, requested the review under the Magnitsky Act. The missed deadline could spark blowback among the Senate GOP, which has increasingly shown a willingness to defy Trump on foreign policy issues. And Rep. Michael McCaul (Texas), the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released a statement saying he was "troubled" by the administration for failing to submit the report.
 More from Anne Gearan, Karen DeYoung and Karoun Demirjian: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5663c500d26717b68699c0907b56c404bdbf9d981867541818d219660f3be13b3e7fffa8cca3fec6cb0a50be47469942 
          TRANSITIONS         
Sharon Utz joins the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Labor as a senior legislative officer. She most recently was a senior professional staff member at the House Committee on Small Business and is also an alum of former Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.).

Brendan Buck, a top aide to former speakers Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and John Boehner (R-Ohio), is joining Blue Engine + JDA as a partner. 
          TODAY IN CONGRESS         
The House gavels in at noon, with first and last votes expected at 6:30 p.m. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=5663c500d26717b638d00c54775929a82a9de51532eed54e42e408e6a92fd16b3af5c80de90756edcef13dc7a01d1e77 The Senate meets at 3 p.m. to resume consideration of S. 47.
          AROUND THE HILL         
Not a whole lot on fly-in day.
          TRIVIA         
FRIDAY'S WINNER -- Andrew Bostjancic was the first to correctly guess that Gary Player,, a.k.a. the Black Knight, is the only professional athlete @realDonaldTrump follows on Twitter.

TODAY'S QUESTION -- From Andrew, in honor of the late John Dingell: It is well known that Dingell was the longest serving member of Congress, but what year did he make his first appearance on the House floor? (Hint: keep in mind his father served in the House!) First person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way: [email-masked].

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** A message from America's 340B Hospitals: We all agree that the high price of prescription drugs needs to be addressed. However, weakening one of the most effective programs in health care will not help. At no cost to taxpayers, the 340B program is critical to the health of our patients because it allows hospitals serving vulnerable communities to address the health care needs of their communities, including providing free or substantially discounted prescriptions to low-income and rural patients, operating free clinics, treating patients with substance use disorders, and sustaining access to other lifesaving services for patients. Weakening this vital program will hurt our patients. Cut
 Drug Prices. Not 340B. Learn more. **
    
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