Back at work, GOP outlook still cloudy

Schiff may face second censure bid next week

Also in today’s edition of ‘Regular Order’ for June 16, 2023:

• Maybe there aren’t Biden tapes.

• Dems not unified on gun petitions.

• Senators cut deal on bank failure penalties.

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GOP RUMBLINGS. While Republicans were able to resume legislative work in the House this week, there is still no overall agreement with a group of conservative GOP rebels on how the party will move forward with a series of government funding bills - as Freedom Caucus members press for large spending cuts. "I want deep, vertical cuts," said Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL).

• SPENDING PLAN. Throwing a bone to the rebels, GOP leaders gave the green light to walk away from the recent debt limit deal - by using spending totals from 2022. But the outline released on Thursday didn't seem to satisfy the rebels, who believe it involves a lot of budget smoke and mirrors.

• RECISSIONS. For example, if you read through the plan from the House Appropriations Committee, it would rescind $115 billion in already approved funding. But that's not really a spending 'cut.' It's just taking money that hasn't been spent yet - and spending it on something else.

• FREEDOM CAUCUS. Basically, these GOP rebels are demanding a big change in how their party operates on Capitol Hill. "There are many country club Republicans up here that seem perfectly content to manage the decline of this country," said Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ). This fight over spending isn’t over.

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SPENDING. I told you yesterday about the sharp exchanges in the House Appropriations Committee, as Democrats blasted Republicans for backing away from the recent debt limit deal. Those exchanges continued in what might be described as a 'family discussion' on Thursday.

• DEALS. Democrats said the GOP decision to ignore the debt limit deal will have major repercussions inside the Capitol. "You can't just have an agreement and then say we're going to change it," Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) told Republicans.

• HOME SALE. Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) compared this dispute to selling a house, where the seller asked for $120,000, and the buyer offered $100,000. They agreed on $110,000 - but the buyer shows up at settlement with just $100,000. "The majority is reneging," Cartwright said.

• GOP. The Republican refrain is - yet again - that Democrats are blowing possible budget cuts out of proportion. "We have more revenue coming into the government right now than we ever have had in history," said Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX). "We have a spending problem."

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SPEAKER. One Republican who has been particularly silent about this kerfuffle in recent days has been Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who negotiated the actual debt limit deal with President Biden. McCarthy spent most of this week defending Donald Trump, celebrating Flag Day, and then going back to a familiar target - reporters.

• BLAME IT ON THE MEDIA. In his only tweet of the day on Thursday, McCarthy took aim at the Capitol Hill press corps. "I worry about the constant negativity of the media. But I keep them in my prayers, and I hope one day they’ll start rooting for America to succeed!"

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EARMARKS. While Republicans talk about spending cuts, the GOP isn't giving up on budget earmarks, as one spending bill advanced out of the Appropriations Committee this week had over 30 pages of home state projects - for both parties. You can go through them at this link.

• PORK BARREL. Remember - my much needed project can also be your waste of money. Think of that as you see $3 million for sugarcane research in Louisiana. $1 million for riverbank stabilization in Michigan. $1 million for a reservoir project in California.

• COLLEGES. When you look at the money trail, you can understand why home state projects are so popular - because lawmakers are creating jobs and providing services with Uncle Sam's money. $1 million for research at the University of Toledo. $2 million for research at the University of Idaho.

• CTRL-F. If you want to search for a specific state or city - you're out of luck. The 33 pages of home state projects in the Agriculture bill were included in a non-searchable format. Maybe that will change in the days ahead as the bill goes to the House floor.

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SCHIFF. Republicans aren't giving up on their effort to censure Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) over his investigations of Donald Trump. A day after a resolution was blocked on the House floor - when 20 GOP lawmakers joined with Democrats to vote against it - there were efforts ongoing to re-draft the measure and vote on it as soon as next week.

• FINE. For a number of Republicans, the threat of a $16 million fine being levied against Schiff in the plan was too much. "I really don't think it's constitutional for Congress - a simple majority of Congress - to somehow bankrupt another member of Congress," said Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH).

• PROCEDURE. Others questioned the process. "It also censured him and then sent him to Ethics for an investigation," said Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND). "That's like convicting someone and then sending them to court for the trial."

• SANTOS. While Rep. George Santos (R-NY) had his case referred to the House Ethics Committee last month - Santos wanted an immediate punishment for Schiff. "We must preserve the integrity of the U.S. House of Representatives, and censure Adam Schiff," Santos said.

• TRUMP. What is most unsettling about this entire situation is the root cause of the outrage among Republicans. They didn't like Schiff leading the charge against Donald Trump. These GOP lawmakers aren't talking about what Trump did wrong - they're only talking about investigating the investigators.

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REGULAR ORDER. It’s time for my weekly pitch for this newsletter. I know it’s a big deal to spend your money to have some nerdy reporter send you a daily email from Capitol Hill. But I’m proud of this product. I just saw one of my newsletter competitors now wants over $3,000/year. You can hire me for a heck of a lot less. Not many people get to walk the halls of the Capitol (and get hassled by the cops on a regular basis). Sign up, give a gift subscription, or buy me a drink to say thanks.

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BANK FAILURES. Two key Senators have announced a deal on a bill which would give federal regulators new powers to punish the leaders of banks which go belly up. The Senate Banking Committee is expected to meet next week on the bill, which would allow the feds to levy new civil penalties, and seize CEO salaries, bonuses and profits.

• BUCKEYE. "Americans have watched executives take their money, run banks into the ground, and get away with it too many times before," said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), the head of the Senate Banking Committee. "It’s time for CEOs to face consequences for their actions, just like everyone else."

• PALMETTO. Brown announced his deal with Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), the top Republican on the banking panel. "We’ve worked to find a commonsense solution to address executive accountability that is tailored to protect the American taxpayer," said Scott.

• TRIVIA. I found this hard to believe - but it's true. The Senate Banking Committee has not had a bill markup in nearly five years. Both parties have been more consumed with nominations and other oversight - instead of moving legislation.

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BIDEN PROBES. Democrats spent this week mocking Rep. James Comer (R-KY) and other Republicans for their charges about President Biden - as GOP lawmakers fully admitted they didn't have evidence or witnesses to back up some of their more dramatic claims.

• SASQUATCH. "Comer is literally going to start looking for BigFoot and the Chupacabra next," said Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), after Comer said no one has had any contact with their main witness against Biden for three years. "It's been years since I've seen my imaginary friend also," said Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL).

• TAPES. On Monday, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) spurred excitement in GOP ranks by talking about tapes - supposedly about bribes involving Biden himself. But by Thursday, Republicans were publicly admitting that maybe there were no tapes at all.

• RON JOHN. "We don't know," Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) told Newsmax on Thursday when asked about the tapes. "Sen. Grassley has never said they exist."

• REFRAIN. If you step back for a moment, what you keep seeing from Republicans are claims of wrongdoing - but the GOP never seems to get to the point of backing them up with actual evidence.

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GUNS. Democrats this week launched three special parliamentary petitions in an effort to force House votes on three different gun control bills. At this point, there is no hint that their effort is going to get the support of any Republican member of the House - which means it is going nowhere.

• NOT ON BOARD. Four Democrats have refused to sign any of the three discharge petitions on guns: Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK), Rep. Don Davis (D-NC), and Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX).

• NUMBERS. So far, 207 House Democrats have signed the petition to bring up a bill on universal background checks. 207 are also backing a bill to say no gun sale can occur until a background check is finished. 218 signatures are needed to force a vote.

• ASSAULT WEAPONS. Two Democratic lawmakers did not sign the discharge petition for an assault weapons ban - Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS), and Rep. Vicente Gonzales (D-TX). 205 Democrats have signed on so far.

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SCOTUS. The U.S. Supreme Court will continue to whittle down the number of rulings left in the 2022-23 term, as more decisions are expected at 10 am. Twenty cases have yet to be decided, including one of the President's student loan forgiveness program. The Justices are expected to wrap up work in the next two weeks.

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IMMIGRATION. Thursday marked 11 years since President Barack Obama unveiled the controversial DACA program to shield younger illegal immigrants from deportation. That means it has also been more than eleven years where the Congress has not passed any bills which are remotely important about immigration policy.

• BIDEN. In a statement on DACA, President Biden pointed the finger directly at lawmakers on Capitol Hill. "Only Congress can provide permanent and lasting stability for these young people and their families," Biden said. "Congress must act to protect our Dreamers."

• OUTLOOK. But there is little chance of anything getting done. Just look at the House, where Republicans are openly talking about impeachment for the Secretary of Homeland Security - as the two parties continue to talk past each other on the needed answers at the border.

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TIE BREAKERS. At the start of the week, it looked like Vice President Kamala Harris might break the record for most tie-breaking votes in the Senate. She only needed three to pass John C. Calhoun for first place, all-time. It could have happened - if every GOP Senator had been at work.

• NOT VOTING. First, it was Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) missing a close vote on Tuesday, so he could be at Bedminster to hear from former President Donald Trump (after his arraignment). Then, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) missed several votes when he was on the campaign trail on Wednesday and Thursday.

• HARRIS. So, Vice President Harris remains in second with 29 tie-breaking votes - tied with John Adams. Maybe next week.

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RAP SHEET. A former Marine and ally of the Proud Boys from Virginia has pleaded guilty to a felony charge related to his actions on Jan. 6. James Davis joined other rioters in trying to breach police lines outside the Capitol, while carrying a long wooden stick. Later that day he wrote, "I did hit a few cops on the head with the BIG STICK."

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MUSE OF HISTORY.  June 16, 1934.  On this date, the Senate gave unanimous final approval for a new memorial in Washington, D.C. to honor Thomas Jefferson.  The measure created a commission to hash out the details - but lawmakers specifically authorized construction at the intersection of Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues - just down the hill from the U.S. Capitol.  Obviously, that is not where the Jefferson Memorial ended up.  In 1936, plans were shifted over to the Tidal Basin, and the monument was dedicated in 1943. 

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LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:

The House has votes next Tuesday.

The Senate returns on Monday.

President Biden’s daily schedule link.

Follow me on Twitter @jamiedupree. Email me at jamiedupree@substack.com

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