Biden presses Congress on disaster aid

GOP rudderless on spending with one month to shutdown

Also in today’s edition of ‘Regular Order’ for September 1, 2023:

• Greene wants an impeachment vote - or a shutdown.

• Feds unveil new rule to require more gun sale background checks.

• McConnell faces more questions about his future.

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DISASTER. With the remnants of Hurricane Idalia out to sea, President Biden on Thursday called on Congress to act quickly to approve more resources for a federal disaster fund that's running out of money. "We need this disaster relief request," Biden said during a stop at FEMA Headquarters. "We need to do it in September. We can't wait."

• FUNDING. Three weeks ago, Biden asked for $12 billion to refill the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund. So far, House Republicans have said almost nothing about the plan, which was paired with a $24 billion aid package for Ukraine, and $4 billion to help deal with immigration issues on the southern border.

• MONEY. During his FEMA visit, Biden said he couldn't understand why some GOP lawmakers might oppose aid for those hit by wildfires in Hawaii or a hurricane in the southeast. "I'm not sure what they're thinking,” he said.

• GOP. Some Republicans from Florida made clear this week that they want a vote only on the relief aid. "Disaster aid should not be tied to a debate about what’s done in Ukraine," said Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL). "We must put the American people first," added Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL).

• TREADING WATER. What will Republicans do? There has been no public guidance from Speaker Kevin McCarthy or his key lieutenants on how the GOP should deal with disaster aid. Then again, McCarthy hasn’t provided much clarity on how he’s going to avoid a shutdown on October 1, either.

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SPENDING. The difficult GOP crosscurrents in Congress on spending were readily apparent last night from two very different House Republicans. From Texas, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) said it was time for Republicans to unite behind larger budget cuts. "Spending is out of control," Gonzalez said. "Republicans have the majority, it's time to use it!"

• MRS. GREENE OF GEORGIA. Meanwhile, at a townhall meeting in her district, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said she would only vote for a short-term plan to fund the government if the following four conditions were met:

  • Impeachment inquiry vote on President Biden.

  • Defund FBI/DOJ over Donald Trump prosecutions.

  • Elimination of all COVID vaccine mandates.

  • No military aid for Ukraine.

• RED FLAG. The Greene warning was also a reminder that the House has been out of session for over a month now - and there is no indication that GOP leaders are any closer to a deal with conservatives on spending.

• BATTLE. It’s clear that some in the House GOP wouldn’t mind a showdown over spending inside the party. "The power of the purse is the biggest point of leverage that Republicans have," said Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA).

• SEPTEMBER. Will there be a shutdown? "Real Americans aren’t concerned if the government temporarily shuts down," said Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC). Buckle up, America. This could be a wild month of September.

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REGULAR ORDER. Welcome to all of our new readers. This is when I make my pitch for this newsletter. My voice still doesn’t work right, so I can’t go on radio, TV, or podcasts - and that makes it hard to spread the word about ‘Regular Order,’ which offers a unique inside view from Capitol Hill. Support independent journalism by signing up, giving someone a gift subscription, or you can always just buy me a drink.

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GUNS. The Biden Administration on Thursday put forward a proposed federal regulation to strengthen the use of background checks on gun sales. The move would require online gun purchases, plus gun sales at gun shows, to always go through a federal background check. The move drew immediate praise from Democrats in Congress.

• WHITE HOUSE. "The proposed rule would make clear that there is no “gun show loophole” or “internet loophole” in federal law," the White House said. "Dealers who engage in the business of selling guns are required to obtain a license and run background checks." You can read the new ATF rule at this link.

• CONGRESS. The change came about after approval last year of a bipartisan gun violence bill, which changed the definition of how people are 'engaged in the business' of selling firearms. "This is a big deal," said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT). "Thousands of gun dealers currently do not do background checks.”

• CRITICS. Gun rights groups swiftly denounced the plan, and called on Republicans in Congress to block it. "Congress must defund this rule and join us in the fight to repeal this dangerous and unconstitutional legislation," said Aidan Johnston of Gun Owners of America.

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MCCONNELL. Instead of being focused on what legislative business the Senate needs to get done in the month of September, GOP Senators will return next week amid uncertainty over the health of Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who suffered another 'freeze' this week, where he was unable to speak for a short time during a news conference.

• DIAGNOSIS. McConnell has made little information public about his health. "After evaluating (Wednesday's) incident, I have informed Leader McConnell that he is medically clear to continue with his schedule as planned," said Dr. Brian Monahan, the Attending Physician of the U.S. Capitol.

• OBSERVATIONS. We all know what we saw. As I've said previously, it's obvious that since McConnell took a bad fall in March, he hasn't been the same. Whether that should force him to leave the Senate - or the GOP leadership - isn't a simple question.

• GOP LEADER. From outside the Capitol, there were already calls for McConnell to move on. "Mitch McConnell Needs to Step Aside," the editors of the conservative National Review declared on Thursday. "A leadership transition doesn’t need to happen urgently, but the wheels should be turning," they wrote.

• WHAT’S NEXT. Republicans Senators are saying very little on the record about McConnell. It will be a prime topic in the hallways when Senators return from a five-week break next Tuesday.

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MISSING BILLS. Hours after I detailed on Thursday how Republicans were passing bills in the House - but never sending some of them to the Senate - we saw fresh examples of GOP lawmakers demanding action by Senate Democrats on a bill which Republicans refuse to walk across the U.S. Capitol.

• GOP. "It’s time for the Senate to pass the Lower Energy Costs Act," said Rep. John Joyce (R-PA) about H.R. 1, the top piece of GOP legislation in the House. Republicans know that Democrats aren't going to act on the bill in the Senate - so this is an easy hit for Joyce and other Republicans.

• STRATEGY. "Holding up the bills just seems like a low-cost gamble by GOP leaders," said Sarah Binder, a political science professor at George Washington University. "Does it handcuff Senate Democrats? Probably not. But it might give the House a little leverage in negotiations over next steps on funding the government," she added.

• FUNDING. House Republicans have passed but held onto three different bills with tax provisions, plus one government funding bill for 2024. By not sending those bills to the Senate, it makes it more difficult for the Senate to find a legislative vehicle for some kind of budget or spending deal.

• MORE DETAILS. My Twitter thread about this situation is at this link. Or you can click over to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for more. Not sending a bill to the Senate wasn’t an option in the Schoolhouse Rock video, 'I'm Just a Bill.'

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SCOTUS. Releasing his annual financial disclosure form on Thursday, Justice Clarence Thomas basically confirmed much of the reporting that Thomas took private jet trips paid for by Texas billionaire Harlan Crow, and that Crow had bought Thomas family real estate in Georgia. You can read the Thomas form at this link.

• DEMS. Thomas critics were not swayed. "This forced clean-up effort does nothing to clear Justice Thomas," Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) said last night. "We are still seeking documents about Thomas’s previous billionaire yacht and jet travel gifts episode," added Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

• STATEMENT. "The attacks on Justice Thomas are nothing less than ridiculous and dangerous, and they set a terrible precedent for political blood sport through federal ethics filings," said Thomas lawyer Eliot Berke.

• TIMING. I was most intrigued by a statement put out by three GOP lawmakers in defense of Thomas. "The Left has been out to get Justice Clarence Thomas for over 30 years," wrote Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), and Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX). It seemed like a rather well-organized Congressional rebuttal for an August recess.

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TRIVIA. The 118th Congress started back in January. How many bills have been signed into law so far? If you guessed a baker's dozen - you're right. Just 13 bills have become law, and most of them aren't exactly major news items.

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JANUARY 6. Two top leaders in the 'Proud Boys' were given stiff jail terms on Thursday for their actions surrounding the Jan. 6 siege at the U.S. Capitol. A federal judge sentenced Joseph Biggs to 17 years in prison, while Zachary Rehl was given 15 years. Another Proud Boy leader, Ethan Nordean, will be sentenced this afternoon.

• JAIL TIME. The 17 year sentence for Biggs, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy, is topped only by the 18 year sentence handed down to Stewart Rhodes, leader of the Oath Keepers militia. Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio could challenge that when he is sentenced after Labor Day.

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RAP SHEET. An Arkansas man was arrested on Wednesday for his actions on Jan. 6. Nathan Hughes was part of the mob of rioters who tried to push through police in a tunnel into the Capitol building. Hughes signaled the crowd to follow him, as he charged into the tunnel at officers.

• LONE STAR. A Texas man who made it easy for investigators to find out more about his actions on Jan. 6 has been arrested. "I’m Philip Anderson, you can find me on Parler," Anderson said on video that day after the Capitol attack. "We stormed it, we took over, and we ended the hoax. We ended the steal."

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MUSE OF HISTORY.  September 1, 1970.  On this date, the Senate voted 55-39 to defeat a bipartisan plan to end the war in Vietnam.  "No one is happy about the war," acknowledged Sen. John Stennis (D-MS), who opposed the plan, saying it wrongly infringed on the President's powers.  But opponents said it was time for Congress to act.  "We have a chance to demonstrate that Government is truly by the people and for the people," said Sen. Mark Hatfield (R-OR).  But Hatfield and Sen. George McGovern (D-SD) were only able to muster 39 votes. 

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LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:

The House next has votes on September 12.

The Senate next has votes on September 5.

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Email me at jamiedupree@substack.com

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