DeSantis signs 6-week abortion ban in Florida

Greene expresses support for airman arrested in leak case

Also in today’s edition of ‘Regular Order’ for April 14, 2023:

• Another House GOP budget plan surfaces.

• More pressure on Justice Clarence Thomas.

• Not the best start for Tim Scott’s 2024 bid.

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ABORTION. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis grabbed a major political victory last night, signing into law a GOP bill to ban most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The move gives Florida one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation, as it drew a sharp rebuke from the White House and Democrats in Congress, at a time when Republicans have been on the defensive over the abortion issue.

• CONGRESS. "Florida’s abortion ban is cruel," said Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL), as Democrats on Capitol Hill denounced the 6-week bill. "Florida Republicans just passed one of the most extreme abortion bans in our country," added Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), as Democrats labeled the new law 'radical' and 'extremist.'

• BIDEN. The White House chimed in as well. "The ban flies in the face of fundamental freedoms," said President Biden's Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

• DESANTIS. But for Gov. DeSantis, this is likely to be an issue that he trumpets on the campaign trail - especially if he gets into the GOP race for President against Donald Trump.

• HELP OR HURT? But does a 6-week abortion ban help DeSantis in a general election? Or does it motivate more Democrats to vote, while turning off independents and some suburban Republican women? DeSantis will be in Washington next week - it’s something to think about.

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SCOTT. While DeSantis was winning a big victory, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) was struggling for a second straight day to answer questions about abortion - as his all-but-announced GOP campaign for President suddenly found him well to the left of most Republicans on a vital issue for conservatives.

• ABORTION BAN. After sidestepping questions in Iowa on Wednesday, Scott told reporters in New Hampshire yesterday that there is 'no question' that he favored a ban on abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy - much longer than the 6-week ban in Florida.

• GOP PLANS. It was a rocky start for Scott's campaign - and ending up on a 20-week abortion ban is probably not what he imagined for a highlight. His abortion answers were given a skeptical response on the conservative Newsmax network, which said Scott 'left a lot to be desired in terms of clarity.'

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MRS. GREENE OF GEORGIA. Democrats on Thursday night called for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to be punished after she expressed her support for the Massachusetts man arrested for leaking classified documents from the military. Greene said the arrest happened for four simple reasons. "Jake Teixeira is white, male, christian, and antiwar," Greene wrote on Twitter. "That makes him an enemy to the Biden regime."

• LEAKS. That was too much for Democrats. "Marjorie Taylor Greene is a threat to our national security," said Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI). "Mr. Teixeira is an alleged traitor to America," said Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), as Democrats called for Speaker McCarthy to remove Greene from the House Homeland Security Committee.

• SPEAKER. Democrats repeatedly brought up McCarthy's name - reminding everyone that his alliance with Greene helped him win the post of Speaker. "McCarthy’s top lieutenant is siding with one of the biggest traitors America has seen," said Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA). "But this wouldn't be the first time she sided with traitors."

• ERICKSON. Greene's comments were too much for Georgia conservative talk radio host Erick Erickson. "The guy put American troops' lives in jeopardy. He's not a hero and he is not a victim. He's a criminal," Erickson tweeted at Greene.

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FEINSTEIN. There was some pushback on Thursday to calls for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to resign from the Senate. "I don't love members of the House of Representatives telling her what she should do," said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT). "There's plenty of members of the Senate who have been sick, gotten ill, and have been given some time to come back and recover."

• ABSENCE. Murphy is correct. But I don’t recall one Senator's absence basically halting most work on the judicial nominees of a President. That's where things are right now. Without Feinstein - or a replacement - on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Biden's choices aren't going anywhere.

• SENATE. We don't have to look back very far to find a comp to Feinstein's situation - that was Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS), who resigned early in 2018 because of health reasons. I've seen this movie before. Some people are in very good shape in their 80's in Congress. Right now - Feinstein is not.

• DUTIES. The California Democrat who first called for Feinstein's resignation, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), stood by that in a Thursday interview with NewsNation. "It was simply to say publicly what so many know privately," Khanna said, that "she's simply unable now to fulfill her duties."

• PARLIAMENTARY NERD NOTE. The old concept of Senatorial courtesy would dictate that Feinstein's request for a temporary replacement on the Senate Judiciary Committee would be honored by the GOP. But this isn't your father's U.S. Senate. And it won’t surprise me if there is an objection next week.

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MCCONNELL. While Feinstein remains out indefinitely, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell will be back at the Capitol next week. "I am looking forward to returning to the Senate on Monday," McConnell tweeted. The Kentucky Republican has been out since March 8, when he was injured in a fall at a Washington, D.C. hotel.

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REGULAR ORDER. Last week, Elon Musk temporarily blocked links to my reporting on Twitter. Since my voice remains AWOL (for 7 long years now) I can’t go on radio, TV, or do podcasts to talk about ‘Regular Order’ - so, please spread the word about my Capitol Hill newsletter. Give someone the gift of straight news and support independent journalism in the halls of Congress! If that doesn’t work - you can always buy me a drink.

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THOMAS. Last week we learned that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was taking vacations around the world paid for by Harlan Crow, a Texas billionaire and big GOP donor. Thursday brought news that Crow bought properties from Thomas and his family in 2014 - including the house that Thomas's mother lived in. And none of it was disclosed.

• DEMS. "The Supreme Court has an obvious ethics problem," Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) said last night, as Democrats again called on Chief Justice John Roberts to root out the facts. "It would be best for the Chief Justice to commence a proper investigation," Whitehouse said.

• MORE. "It just keeps getting worse," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), as new reports indicated Crow also paid for renovations to the Thomas family house. "I renew my call for him to resign immediately," said Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA).

• ETHICS. This sounds crazy - but it's true. The nine U.S. Supreme Court Justices have significantly weaker ethics and financial disclosure requirements than every member of Congress and every Executive Branch official. It shouldn't be controversial to change that. But it is. More in my column for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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GOP BUDGET. House Republicans continue to float out ideas about federal spending, as GOP lawmakers struggle to come together behind a basic budget outline for 2024. The latest group to detail their ideas was the 'Main Street Caucus' in the House - as that 70 member group sent an outline to Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Thursday.

• SPENDING. The two page Main Street blueprint doesn't have many specifics - but it plots out a road map that is generally like other GOP plans. The group would roll non-defense spending back to 2022 levels - which represents a cut of about $150 billion. You can read the details at this link.

• DEFICITS. This plan didn't include any estimates on how it would impact the federal deficit - but one phrase that's not included is a 'balanced budget.' Republicans have been emphasizing that less and less as this debt limit fight drags on - and that could be a problem for some in the GOP.

• VOTES. The negotiating hand of Republicans would be greatly strengthened if they could pass something out of the House on the budget and debt limit. That's partly why you heard Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) call for a vote before the end of April on a GOP budget blueprint. This will be a major flashpoint next week when Congress returns.

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SECOND TRY. A failed GOP candidate for Congress - who falsely told voters that he had served in combat in Afghanistan - says he will run again for the U.S. House in Ohio. J.R. Majewski should have easily defeated Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) in 2022, but his 'candidate quality' troubles turned the tide for Democrats last November.

• THE NEW GOP. It used to be that a candidate like Majewski - who lied repeatedly about his military record - would have no future in the GOP. But things have changed in the Republican Party in recent years. "Last cycle, we started a movement. This cycle, we win," Majewski said.

• CANDIDATE QUALITY. Bad candidates usually result in bad outcomes - and the GOP is very familiar with that story line in recent years. If Republicans can come up with a better alternative in this Ohio district than Majewski, they have a good chance to defeat Kaptur in 2024. If.

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MUSE OF HISTORY.  April 14, 1910.  On this date, President Taft started the tradition of having a President throw out the first pitch on Opening Day in Washington, D.C.  The manager of the Senators, Jimmy McAleer, is said to have been the one who came up with the idea.  Instead of throwing it to the team's catcher, Taft threw the ball to pitching great Walter Johnson, who went 25-17 that year, with a 1.36 ERA.  Since Taft, only three Presidents have *not* thrown an Opening Day pitch while in office - Carter, Trump, and Biden.

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LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:

The House next has votes on April 17.

The Senate next has votes on April 17.

President Biden’s daily schedule link.

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

If you want to say ‘thanks’ - you can buy me a cup of coffee.