Subject: POLITICO Huddle, presented by AARP: TRUMP’S BUDGET RENEWS SHUTDOWN FEARS -- Gillibrand under fire for handling of 'Me Too' allegation -- HOUSE DEMS SET HIGH BAR FOR IMPEACHMENT -- Omar controversy sparks freedom of speech debate
From: "POLITICO Huddle" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2019 06:06:15 -0600
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03/11/2019 08:04 AM EDT
        
By MELANIE ZANONA ([email-masked]; @MZanona)

        
THE NEXT BIG BUDGET BATTLE -- It's budget day on Capitol Hill. The White House is preparing to send President Donald Trump's spending blueprint for fiscal 2020 to Congress later this morning, with economic adviser Larry Kudlow setting expectations that it will be a "tough budget." While the document is little more than a wishlist, early previews of Trump's demands are already stoking fears about another government shutdown at the end of September. 

What to expect: Trump will ask Congress for $8.6 billion to complete a 722-mile wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, report Jennifer Scholtes and Caitlin Emma, which is billions more than the $5.7 billion in border security that he was denied earlier this year. The budget will also propose significantly slashing domestic programs while boosting defense spending, call for funding a Space Force and seek money for Ivanka Trump's Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, among other things.

The early reaction: Not surprisingly, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) were quick to reject Trump's demand for a border wall. "Congress refused to fund his wall and he was forced to admit defeat and reopen the government," they said in a joint statement. "The same thing will repeat itself if he tries this again." Meanwhile, your Huddle host is hearing that some Republicans are uneasy that the budget won't balance in 10 years. The latest from Jennifer and Caitlin: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=58e386abe982a90dd73fc5dba7f65626a63d48b38dc53f4cc800f929a5e0479ac86c125ac7941c19f0cfb02bfee68467 

GILLIBRAND ROCKED BY "ME TOO" -- A female aide to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), one of the most outspoken advocates of the "Me Too" movement, resigned last summer in protest of how her sexual harassment allegation was handled by the office, scoop Alex Thompson and Daniel Strauss. The female staffer reported to her superiors that male aide Abbas Malik made "unwelcome advances" and "crude, misogynistic remarks," but she quit her job three weeks later because she felt the investigation was being handled so poorly.

POLITICO uncovered additional allegations of inappropriate workplace conduct by Malik, including a claim he made a "joke" about rape to a female colleague. After the allegations were presented to Gillibrand's office two weeks ago, a new investigation was opened and Malik was dismissed. Now, both Gillibrand and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have "Me Too" stories dogging their presidential campaigns. Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=58e386abe982a90dd0dacc61c1215e4d3396d13cbeed448a050cdac1d8e39731af1c905febbd2419e26b8b6ee93297b7 

Related 2020 read: "'A major player': Sanders gets props from the Democratic establishment," by Burgess and Marianne: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=58e386abe982a90d163383b7cf699153ac37a95087f6591d6f3099c78bf9617d913624f75e50291a82ba61f95d2c5ab2 

HAPPY MONDAY! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this March 11, where your Huddle host is so here for the movement to end daylight saving time.

FRIDAY'S MOST CLICKED: McClatchy's report on Majority Whip Jim Clyburn's leadership being tested during the Rep. Ilhan Omar controversy was the big winner.

** A message from AARP: The big drug companies don't see us as people. They see us as profits. Americans pay the highest drug prices in the world while they rake in billions. We shouldn't have to choose between buying medication and buying food. Congress, stop the greed. Cut drug prices now. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=58e386abe982a90d7bb84ca50402447ac50df191c7598cb80c788db24d37bfd25f8827ccf0dc2f3f5fd8f3782100c4f3 **

RAISING THE BAR -- Democratic leaders have set such a high bar for impeachment that it seems nearly impossible, report Andrew, Heather and Sarah. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has said that any effort to oust Trump from office needs to have bipartisan support, an incredibly high standard that could end up enraging the liberal base. Democrats are keenly aware that impeachment is dead on arrival in the Senate, while it could galvanize Trump's base heading into 2020. Other lawmakers, however, say the party will have no choice but to take action if they turn up evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors, which they hope will bring some Republicans over to their side. Much more: 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=58e386abe982a90d9bd2e873c230b11575d1187797360a74761c51093444204a9eac46a1a559409f7f41f4965b8cb454 

WHERE DO DEMS DRAW THE LINE? -- Following the uproar over Rep. Ilhan Omar's (D-Minn.) controversial remarks, Democrats are wrestling with where to draw the line when it comes to the freedom of speech. The House passed a resolution rejecting all forms of hate speech, hoping to turn the page on a painful episode for the Democratic conference. But The New York Times reports that some members are questioning whether the party has set a new standard in which they will be forced to condemn every single insensitive remark made by a lawmaker. "That's the real question: what if this happens again? What are we going to do?" said Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.). Glenn Thrush and Sheryl Gay Stolberg with
 the dispatch: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=58e386abe982a90d31f534ea5c2209f6ce7e3ca9548771cffca98b454f232e7624e48533cc1f5cd69fe7eece69dd09c0 

Related: "'It hurts a lot:' Muslim, Black members of Congress react to anti-hate vote," by Matt Laslo for Vice: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=58e386abe982a90db88ed64b18dcbc1e7a9aa57966cb8cb3995ec479b9c76a1b595882d7d330c4fca04ed73c80013bfd and "Fox News denounces Pirro comments on Omar," via Quint Forgey: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=58e386abe982a90d2f285963860071f13fee27b0b25dd96b023676159c0ed1a5a568960b8a290af904090c80b8654c81 

LIBERALS LOOK TO EXPAND THEIR RANKS -- Progressives are already beefing up their efforts to send more liberals to Congress next year. The Congressional Progressive Caucus' campaign arm has hired David Keith to be its first-ever political director, reports Laura Barr&oacute;n-L&oacute;pez. The CPC, which has grown by over two dozen members after the 2018 midterm elections, is preparing to support progressive candidates with resources, encouragement and funding. But unlike other liberal groups that made waves last year, the CPC PAC will not try to take out Democratic incumbents. Instead, the PAC will focus on swing districts and safe seats where incumbents retire. More: 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c7ae7da7dfdae91fd29ecc1faf74f7d17d6619108e2ba9c4f6b55f01ec31dc910b84055dacc5709caa2a722e68f77039 

WEEKLY OVERSIGHT WATCH -- The House Intelligence Committee has delayed its public interview with Trump associate Felix Sater to later in the month - but it'll still be a busy week for congressional oversight. Stick with us here!

On Monday ... the House Rules Committee will consider a non-binding resolution aimed at putting pressure on the Justice Department to make the full Mueller report public and available to Congress. A full floor vote is expected later this week. Democratic committee chairs have threatened to issue a subpoena for the full Mueller report if Attorney General William Barr doesn't turn over enough information, and they've even suggested bringing in Mueller to testify.

On Wednesday ... a House Appropriations subcommittee will question GSA chief Emily Murphy. Chairman Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) has said Murphy misled Congress about the president's role in keeping the FBI headquarters at its current location on Pennsylvania Avenue. Quigley has suggested that Trump might have opposed moving the FBI HQ so that a new tenant couldn't compete with the Trump International Hotel, which is less than a block away.

On Thursday... Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will appear before the House Ways and Means Committee to take questions about the president's FY 2020 budget. But lawmakers are also expected to press Mnuchin on Russian sanctions - in particular, the Trump administration's decision to lift sanctions on companies tied to billionaire Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. 

Also on Thursday... Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross will testify before the House Oversight and Reform Committee. His appearance will come just a week after a federal judge said Ross violated the Constitution and broke the law when he moved to add a question to the 2020 Census about citizenship. Ross unsuccessfully tried to push the hearing back when he learned that the panel was seeking information about his personal financial disclosures and other documents.

***Ben White will once again bring POLITICO's Morning Money newsletter to the Milken Institute Global Conference from April 28 through May 2. The special edition newsletter will detail conference highlights, major conversations, evening festivities and VIP gatherings throughout the conference. Sign up today to receive exclusive, in-depth coverage from the scene of #MIGlobal.***
          TRANSITIONS         
Don Stewart, a top communications adviser to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for more than a dozen years, will be joining the Association of Global Automakers in a newly created position of Executive Vice President, Public Affairs.

Eric Schmitz, formerly of SBA List, will be coalitions coordinator for House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.). Marty Reiser, Scalise's policy director, will lead the business coalition operation.

Megan Whittemore has been named chief of staff for Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.). Whittemore helped lead Perdue to a decisive victory in Georgia in 2014 and previously served as deputy COS and communications director.

Alexis Garcia is now a grants coordinator and legislative assistant for Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas). She previously was a program associate at Community Catalyst.

Bryan Gulley, longtime spokesman for Senate Commerce Committee Democrats, announced his departure on Friday.
          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=c7ae7da7dfdae91f8d0ec38f2330441f8ed322d5540fba6be7391670ace0d05785527517b4fc59ce8858fcbd7077d656 The Senate meets at 3 p.m. to resume consideration of Paul B. Matey's nomination to be U.S. circuit judge for the Third Circuit. At 5:30 p.m., the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture 
          AROUND THE HILL         
President Trump's fiscal year 2020 budget will be delivered to the House Budget Committee at 8 a.m. in 210 CHOB.
          TRIVIA         
FRIDAY'S WINNER -- Bruce Mehlman was the first to correctly guess that the most flags - 10,471, to be exact - were flown over the Capitol on July 4, 1976, to celebrate the Bicentennial.

TODAY'S QUESTION -- From yours truly: How many senators have ever become president? And how many presidents have gone on to become senators? First person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way: [email-masked].

GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning.

** A message from AARP: There's no question about it: The big drug companies' profits are soaring while too many Americans are struggling to make ends meet. As we continue to pay the highest prescription drug prices in the world, drug companies continue to pocket billions of dollars. They can afford to spend nearly $175 million for lobbying, and more than $6 billion for advertising, and yet we're supposed to believe they can't find a way to lower prices? Americans shouldn't have to choose between buying medication and buying food for our families. It's time for Congress to step up and put people before profits. Stop the greed. Cut drug prices now. 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=58e386abe982a90d7bb84ca50402447ac50df191c7598cb80c788db24d37bfd25f8827ccf0dc2f3f5fd8f3782100c4f3 **
    
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