Subject: POLITICO Huddle, presented by the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association: PELOSI STRUGGLES TO RESPOND TO OMAR -- Dems wary of targeting Trump family -- SENATE BRACES FOR VOTES ON WALL EMERGENCY -- McSally opens up about being raped in the Air Force
From: "POLITICO Huddle" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 07 Mar 2019 07:02:13 -0600
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03/07/2019 08:00 AM EDT
        
By MELANIE ZANONA ([email-masked]; @MZanona)

        
PELOSI'S PROBLEM -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) held an emergency meeting in her office Wednesday night to figure out an appropriate response to the political firestorm surrounding Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), scoop Heather, Bres and Sarah. No decision was made on when a resolution will come to the floor or what the language will look like, but lawmakers are eager to resolve the issue before the week's end.

Who else was in the meeting: Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md), Pelosi's top deputy; Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), a senior member of the Congressional Black Caucus; Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), who is Jewish; and Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), who is also Jewish. 

Leadership is struggling to strike a balance between the liberals and CBC members who think any resolution would be unfair to Omar and some of the veteran and Jewish lawmakers who want the resolution to be as strong as possible. The crisis has vexed Pelosi, who is normally in tune with her caucus and fresh off a number of big wins.

Part of the challenge is the arrival of an animated, younger generation of Democrats, who refuse to accept the normal top-down leadership approach and are armed with a massive following on social media. "I was told to be a potted plant when I got here," said longtime Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.). "It is a different time. New members are not willing to sit back." Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a0748101fc831f6423ee36c9f379ecc4d22b65f7a2879eb927fb32083938163c3381bace690e6452125c2b44e73f87b1 

Related: "GOP strategy on Omar: Let Dems struggle on their own," from your Huddle host: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f514639df55941809c1f61c78f0f8f1cdc5d4d2290917def4f81effe0d6c080b6fd24930e5823484c9021c6c667b6365 

ALL IN THE FAMILY -- Democrats are moving full steam ahead with a set of sweeping investigations into Trump world, but there is one area of the president's life they are more cautious of attacking: his children. Some lawmakers worry that dragging Ivanka, Eric or Donald Trump Jr. into the congressional brawl could elicit sympathy for the president and feed into GOP accusations that the probes are nothing more than a political fishing expedition. 

"Getting to family members I think is dangerous," said Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), a senior member of the House Oversight and Reform Committee. "Only because it gets real personal, real fast. And it risks backfiring. Maybe at some point we have to call them in, but I'd rather let prosecutors look at that."

But it's a confrontation that may be tough to avoid, given Trump's family members are so deeply entwined in his business and political life. And the House Oversight Committee is already weighing its next subpoena, which may involve security clearance documents regarding Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Andrew and Bres with the dispatch: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ad49d5863496023caf3a1c8802324343e8e66b0300b8ad1907bddb8cf5b76ac4ba4fb6d30f199d74e9fb906c24f76314 

Related: "Sources: Michael Cohen gives House Intel docs showing previous testimony was edited," via Andrew: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=92add9f5b82693b9eeec24aa4654c260cc3dd5a632298a92e4a33a3665e31c11beedf8e423f6a2f4cd3854948b10ddf2 

GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, March 7, where Chance the Rapper's story of how he met his soon-to-be wife is giving us all the feels.

WEDNESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Darren Samuelsohn and Andrew's report on the "other Mueller report" was the big winner.

** A message from the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association: We're Clamping Down on Drug Price Hikes. Did you know Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) save patients and health plans $123 per prescription? Learn how PBMs advocate for patients and payers at OnYourRxSide.org.** 

GROUNDHOG DAY -- The Senate will vote next week on a House-passed resolution to kill Trump's national wall emergency, with enough Republicans expected to join Democrats in rebuking the president. But thanks to the quirks of congressional procedure, they may have to vote on the divisive issue over, and over, again. Under the National Emergencies Act, Democrats could force votes on the resolution every six months, reports Burgess. That would repeatedly pose an uncomfortable loyalty test for the GOP, which is deeply uneasy with the emergency declaration but wary of bucking the president over one of his top priorities. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=b644c4112304e680fea8fa835990ca15f50e3a39961d2079f7aa3a22bf8ba57fb5da84a87d6951d5d798978dd3e4cfa7 

Related read: "Democrats blast Nielsen over border policies," by Ted Hesson: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4bde5a30878afebf5520aefd951f8ed95ba3d4952b8aa90980295cc06a61fa0dd7db2bf11e0f8af2dad374b7dff34ba0 

TROLL SO HARD -- House Republicans are having a little fun with the Democratic divide over the "motion to commit", a procedural tool that the GOP has successfully used twice in the minority. Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) is circulating a tongue-in-cheek "Dear Colleague" letter that includes a template resignation letter for any members who don't want to take tough votes. "Making these tough calls every week isn't what I thought I was signing up for when I ran for Congress," the letter, obtained by Huddle, reads. "It's just too hard and I can't take it anymore."

And Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) passed out a mock "Dear Abby" column on MTRs during Wednesday's GOP conference meeting, featuring fake questions from "Confused in Cannon," "Losing it in Longworth," and "Rattled in Rayburn."

MCSALLY'S ME TOO MOMENT -- Sen. Martha McSally opened up about suffering a sexual assault during her time in the Air Force, saying she was raped by a superior officer. The Arizona Republican, who was speaking during a Senate hearing on preventing sexual assault in the armed services, said she never reported the incident because she felt powerless and ashamed. "Like many victims, I felt like the system was raping me all over again," McSally said. The stunning disclosure comes not long after Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) revealed she was sexually assaulted in college. Katie Galioto with more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=364252afe751baf5afc4207fdfff7d3c5f512b816a796e5bab01ff7b49d12e06850d4b3e907794a539570e1bac2c2e68 

THE PRESENT IS A GIFT -- Senate Democrats are planning to put on a united front in the face of a GOP effort to divide the caucus over the progressives' Green New Deal. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has vowed to put the proposal on the floor, hoping to squeeze Democrats and put every lawmaker on the record over the liberal issue. But Democrats are planning to just vote "present" as a way to rebut what they view as a political stunt, reports Anthony Adragna. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e02ab3b950a304a44ae45136515a75aa7c4a837f4619bfd3d8c516c85e18f1c417fcdc420e4e61983ff489a4239c2990 

Related: "White House tries to charm Democrats on new NAFTA," from Sabrina Rodriguez and Andrew Restuccia: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4bedc9b97e5f3669809e8b74be317a3dcdb224f48da8caebfe4b7f286c2d517ca03886c6420d22d81a43068ae6e3c54e 

SCHOCKER -- Disgraced former Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) has agreed to take a plea deal to have his corruption case dropped, agreeing to pay $110,000 in restitution and taxes in exchange for no criminal conviction. Schock, who was seen as a young rising star in the GOP, resigned in 2015 amid reports he misused campaign finance funds. But he isn't ruling out a return to politics in the wake of his plea deal. "At 37 years old, I don't think I'll ever say never," Schock said. More from Caitlin Oprysko: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=de5b8020fa64c7048799c5e2e9ebe3897f3d7c3ca7cff4812e5fa155abb2ccf8ba696fcbeb1d8cbac42feb1cf1f6c31c 

Related: "District Director for U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins at the Center of Alleged Human Trafficking Ring," from The Bayou Brief: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=0bdbd2f03b7d1a79c1e0a5c3763b160bf0a084f5867948568c43386b154867c26fd406cc9f99dad785b8128d9445c89a 
          TRANSITIONS         
Erin Perrine, press secretary for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), will be joining the Trump campaign as deputy communications director. 

Guy King is starting next week as digital media associate for the Southern Poverty Law Center. He previously was communications director for Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.).

Rachael Dean Wilson has joined the Alliance for Securing Democracy as External Relations Director. Wilson previously served as press secretary and communications director for the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and most recently led communications for Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.). 
          TODAY IN CONGRESS         
The House gavels in at 10 a.m., with first and last votes expected between 4 and 5 p.m. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4c0157ec191e499c4045af5f063524e4429210fb2472e73073289bfb6c5e5546944523f0771565f7e8bd29f44888394f The Senate meets at 9:30 a.m. to resume consideration of the nomination of Eric E. Murphy to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the 6th Circuit. At 12:30 p.m., the Senate will vote on confirmation.
          AROUND THE HILL         
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) holds her weekly press conference at 10:45 a.m. in HVC Studio A.

Reps. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) and Don Young (R-Alaska) hold a press conference on marijuana reform at 11 a.m. on the House Triangle.

House Freshmen hold a press conference on the For the People Act (H.R. 1) at 12:30 p.m. in 2360 Rayburn.

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) hold a press conference to announce bicameral reproductive rights legislation at 1 p.m. on the House Triangle.

Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) holds a press gaggle prior to a hearing on American hostages in Iran at 1 p.m. in 2172 Rayburn.

Speaker Pelosi holds a press event to introduce the bipartisan reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act at 1:30 p.m. in the Rayburn room.

Reps. Norma Torres (D-Calif.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Donna Shalala (D-Fla.) introduce the Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services (SAVES) Act at 3:30 p.m. on the House triangle.
          TRIVIA         
WEDNESDAY'S WINNER -- Sara Bonjean was the first to correctly guess that Reps. Billy Long (R-Mo.) and Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), as well as former Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), worked as auctioneers prior to being elected.

TODAY'S QUESTION -- From Sara: Who was the last veteran of the Civil War to serve in the United States Senate, and what distinction did he possess helping secure that state's motto? 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 the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association: The core mission of PBMs is to be the primary advocate for consumers and health plans in the fight to keep prescription drugs accessible and affordable. PBMs negotiate on behalf of consumers, and are able to keep a lid on overall costs for prescription drugs with market-based tools that encourage competition among drugmakers and drugstores, and incentivize consumers to take the most cost-effective and clinically appropriate medication. Learn more at OnYourRxSide.org.**
    
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