Congress
Capitol agenda: Schumer keeps his critics at bay
Chuck Schumer is winning over critics who bashed him for surrendering during this spring’s shutdown standoff. That could change fast.
A POLITICO survey of Democratic lawmakers and activists finds that Schumer has exceeded their low expectations in the latest funding standoff. But they’re watching his actions closely, wary that Senate Democrats will cave if pressure grows.
“A lot of people wondered whether we would be bullied again, and we have not been,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who broke with Schumer when the minority leader moved to keep the government open in March. “Sen. Schumer understands the gravity of this moment.”
“He hasn’t surrendered yet,” said Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin, who in March called on Schumer to step down. “I call that progress, and we’re cheering him on now.”
What’s worrying some progressives is that Schumer hasn’t drawn aggressive red lines like Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is demanding that Obamacare subsidies be extended via “ironclad” legislation, and that he may agree to reopen the government with only verbal assurances.
“A handshake agreement is capitulation,” Levin said. “Health care and rescission language is the demand, and it’s broadly popular. No reason to cave for less.”
One House Democrat granted anonymity to candidly discuss the shutdown dynamics said they would publicly call for Schumer to give up his leadership post if he folds now. An aide to another senior House Democrat said a significant number of lawmakers would be inclined to push for Schumer’s ouster in that scenario.
On the other side of the aisle, Speaker Mike Johnson will hold an 11:30 a.m. call Thursday with House Republicans as he faces growing pressure from his own ranks to bring the House back and negotiate an Obamacare extension. Some Republicans are calling for votes to ensure active-duty military members and other federal workers don’t miss their next paychecks.
What else we’re watching:
— Johnson’s day ahead: The speaker will take viewer calls on C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal” at 8:30 a.m. before hosting a 10 a.m. news conference with Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Whip Tom Emmer, Conference Chair Lisa McClain and Veterans’ Affairs Chair Mike Bost. He plans to hold a call with the full House Republican caucus at 11:30 a.m.
— Senate to advance more Trump noms: Senate Judiciary Republicans are poised Thursday to advance five judicial nominees who, if confirmed, would further expand Trump’s conservative imprint on the federal judiciary. That includes Rebecca Taibleson, the president’s pick to serve as U.S. circuit judge for the Seventh Circuit.
Meanwhile Senate HELP will consider nominees including Crystal Carey to be general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board and former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito to be the Labor Department’s inspector general.
— Approps action?: Senate Republicans are discussing next steps on how to proceed with full-year funding bills during the shutdown stalemate. Senate Majority Leader John Thune floated the Senate taking up a standalone defense appropriations bill. Another idea, according to GOP senators, is to go to conference with the House on the Senate-passed appropriations bills with funding for defense, agriculture programs and Congress itself.
Nicholas Wu, Meredith Lee Hill and Jordain Carney contributed to this report.
A large contingent of House Republicans — encompassing hard-liners, Budget Committee members, panel chairs and party leaders — piled into Speaker Mike Johnson’s office Thursday afternoon to discuss a second party-line package, according to four people granted anonymity to share details of the private meeting.
Among the lawmakers attending were Budget Chair Jodey Arrington of Texas and Republican Study Committee Chair August Pfluger, also of Texas.
Reps. Chip Roy of Texas, Byron Donalds of Florida, Tom McClintock of California and Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma were also on hand, alongside Pennsylvania Reps. Lloyd Smucker and Scott Perry.
“We’re definitely preparing to move forward,” Johnson said in an interview as he left the meeting, regarding the House GOP Conference’s plans to pursue another bill through the filibuster-skirting budget reconciliation process. “We’re talking about more details. Lots of work going on.”
One of the biggest issues members are trying to work through at the moment is how to close the wide gap between Republicans in the House and Senate. Most House Republicans want a more expansive bill with myriad conservative policy priorities to ride alongside war and defense funding, while the Senate GOP is largely pushing for a more narrowly-focused measure, according to the four people.
Senate Democrats rejected a GOP photo ID amendment Thursday, an issue that Republicans are eager to use as a cudgel in the midterms.
Senators voted 53-47 on the amendment from Ohio Sen. Jon Husted, which needed 60 votes to advance. Republicans wanted to add the language to their election bill, known as the SAVE America Act.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the amendment “would impose the single strictest voter ID law in America.”
“Stricter than Texas. Stricter than Florida. Stricter than any state in the country,” he said.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he wants to clinch a bipartisan Department of Homeland Security funding agreement Thursday.
“I think the Dems are now in possession of what I think is our last and final” offer, Thune told reporters. “So let’s hope this gets it done.”
“We’re going to know soon,” he added.
The South Dakota Republican declined to discuss details of the offer but suggested it was similar to where the discussions were headed over the weekend. GOP senators then were looking at a bipartisan deal that would fund most of DHS but leave out funding for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations.
That offer was rejected by Democrats. But two people granted anonymity to discuss the revised proposal said it, too, omitted only ERO money but included additional language to try to address some of Democrats’ concerns.
Spokespeople for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Senate is expected to vote again on the House-passed DHS bill Thursday afternoon. The House is also voting again on DHS funding Thursday and is planning to leave town Friday morning for a two-week holiday recess. Progress in the Senate could prompt House GOP leaders to stay in session in hopes of sending a bill to President Donald Trump.
Asked about the Senate vote, Thune said he hoped there would be “some finality in this real soon.”
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