GOP pounds Biden over high inflation
GOP pounds Biden over high inflation
Congress okays bill on forced arbitration
The inflation numbers are ugly again for President Biden and Democrats. A big win for victims of workplace sexual harassment and assault. And proxy voting will continue in the House. This is “Regular Order” for February 11, 2022.
INFLATION. Six days after the release of a positive January jobs report, the White House was again playing defense, buffeted by the latest inflation report, which showed prices are up 7.5 percent over the past 12 months. It's the biggest overall increase since 1982, with the largest jump in food prices since 1981.
WHITE HOUSE. “I know a lot of families are still hurting with higher prices for the things they need,” President Biden said Thursday, as inflation presents a major challenge for Democrats in this election year. “I’m committed to using every tool we have to lower costs for Americans.”
GOP. "Inflation is a tax on every American that is wiping out any gains in economic growth," said Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), as Republicans accused Biden of doing nothing about it. "Americans are paying more at the pump, grocery store, and everywhere else they shop," said Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX).
MESSAGING. It seemed like every other news release and social media post on Thursday from GOP lawmakers was about inflation. The price increases are a major reason why President Biden’s poll numbers are in trouble.
DEMS. "For months, I have been ringing the alarm bell about inflation," said Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV). In a statement, Manchin made clear his inflation worries were one reason he withheld support for the Build Back Better package. "We must get serious about the finances of our country."
SINEMANCHIN. Not only did the latest inflation numbers draw the ire of Manchin, but also Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ). "Arizonans should be able to keep more of their hard-earned money," Sinema said in a statement. "I work every day to ensure any government spending is targeted."
BUILD BACK NEVER. I didn’t think the Build Back Better package was going to be resuscitated after Manchin stopped it in December. And after yet another big inflation report, I’ll stick with that assessment. The argument for ‘more’ government social spending is one Democrats can’t win right now.
MIDTERMS. You don’t have to be a political expert to know that if inflation is still high in November, then Democrats will probably suffer at the polls. It’s why we saw four Democratic Senators up for re-election call for a suspension of the federal gas tax of 18.4 cents per gallon - trying to help consumers.
WIN. Somewhere in my desk at home, I’ve got a WIN button. For those of you not old enough to remember the Ford Administration, that stood for “Whip Inflation Now.”
BIPARTISANSHIP. On a voice vote Thursday, the Senate approved bipartisan legislation which stops victims of sexual assault from being forced to settle their claims in secret proceedings, using what’s known as forced arbitration. The House had passed the bill 335-97 earlier this week.
BACKERS. "This is one of the most significant workplace reforms in American history," said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). "No longer will survivors of sexual assault or harassment in the workplace come forward and be told that they are legally forbidden to sue their employer."
FINE PRINT. “The days of sexual harassment and sexual assault cases being buried in unfair arbitration clauses are now over,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). The bill now goes to the President's desk.
TRUMP TAX CUTS. If there is one default GOP response to almost any economic situation - it is tax cuts. And this week, a group of House Republicans filed a bill to make the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent for individuals. "Making the Trump tax cuts permanent would continue to grow our economy," said Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL).
TAX LAW. Most Americans probably don't remember that all of the individual income tax cuts included in the Trump package will phase out on December 31, 2025. In other words, if nothing is done before then, there would be an automatic tax increase in 2026. More details at this link.
STATE OF THE UNION. Congress this week approved plans for President Biden to give his State of the Union Address on March 1 - but it's still not clear how many lawmakers will attend in person, because of the Coronavirus. In the partisan tug of war over the virus, Republicans want the doors thrown open to all.
GOP. In a letter to Speaker Pelosi, a group of GOP lawmakers said no virus restrictions were the only choice. "It is time for the House of Representatives to resume its normal in-person operations and the State of the Union Address will be a good point to mark this return," the group wrote.
PRESS. As of now, this will not be a normal State of the Union for the press corps. Usually, we gather in Statuary Hall to interview lawmakers after the speech. But that's not an option again this year for reporters on Capitol Hill, because of Coronavirus concerns.
UNPOPULAR OPINION. Frankly, part of me wouldn’t shed any tears if the State of the Union Address never happened again. I think it has morphed into a night of unnecessary partisanship, with very little *real* news.
COVID CONGRESS. Even as the number of new Coronavirus cases continues to drop, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is leaving in place special remote voting rules - extending them through the end of March. That came as the Capitol Physician said the 'public health emergency' due to COVID-19 'remains in effect.'
PROXY. Some Republicans continue to gripe about the COVID voting rules, which allow lawmakers to remotely cast their votes on the House floor. "Members of Congress should show up for work," said Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA). "It's time to end proxy voting."
VOTING. This was the first extension by Speaker Pelosi since the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a GOP lawsuit against the voting rules. About 60-70 members used the proxy system for each vote this week.
SUPREME COURT. Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee went to the White House on Thursday to meet with President Biden, and talk about his upcoming nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. "The highest priority of course is the President's selection of a new Supreme Court Justice," said panel chair Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL).
PICK. The Democratic Senators gave no hints to reporters outside the West Wing on who was Mr. Biden’s favorite for the Court. "We were all excited by the candidates we've heard about," said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). "We all have enormous confidence in President Biden's judgment."
TIMING. Look at the calendar - the clock is ticking on Biden's pledge to make his pick during the month of February. One would think the choice will be made before the State of the Union Address on March 1. My bet is that it gets announced the week of February 21. We'll see.
RNC LINE. The RNC characterization of Jan. 6 as 'legitimate political discourse' has now made it to the courts. Six days after national Republicans roiled their own party with that phrase, a federal judge quoted it while sentencing one of those guilty of attacking the U.S. Capitol.
JUDGE. The case involved Mark Leffingwell, who pleaded guilty to assaulting two police officers on Jan. 6. "The heated rhetoric that got you riled up and brought you to Washington, D.C. has not subsided," Judge Amy Berman Jackson said. "It is not standing up for America. It is not 'legitimate political discourse.'"
CHENEY. As for those investigating the attack, Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) used an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal to say the Jan. 6 panel will not let Donald Trump’s lies stand about election fraud. "Trump ignored the rulings of the courts and launched a massive campaign to mislead the public."
TRUMP. I told you yesterday how Trump continues to rattle off false charges of fraud almost every day. On Thursday, Trump's spokeswoman said Wisconsin has 4 million adults - but 7.1 million registered voters. Actually, Wisconsin has about 3.7 million registered voters. Facts matter.
REGULAR ORDER. Do you have a friend who would like the nuts and bolts from Capitol Hill? Give them the gift of straight news about Congress. And support independent journalism along the way!
UNIONS. There's a lot of talk from Democrats on Capitol Hill about letting Congressional staffers organize a union. Ironically, it was House Speaker Newt Gingrich who opened up the possibility of staff unions back in 1995 - but the GOP refused to approve the rules. More in my column for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
U.S. CAPITOL NERD NOTE. My dad gave me some souvenirs from his early work on Capitol Hill - so, I brought an old State of the Union framed photo to the House Radio TV press Gallery on Tuesday to add some history to their walls.
MUSE OF HISTORY. February 11, 1834. On this date, Congress saw death up close. During a debate on banking policies, Rep. Thomas Bouldin of Virginia, was discussing the passing of former Rep. John Randolph, and why it was not announced on the House floor. Suddenly, Bouldin stopped speaking, collapsed, and died. "Mr. Bouldin, after some moments pause, was observed to totter and lean forward upon the desk from which he was addressing the House." The Congressional Globe reported that "the vital spark had fled." A funeral was held in the House Chamber two days later, attended by President Andrew Jackson, lawmakers, and 'Citizens and Strangers.'
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:
The House next has votes on February 28.
The Senate meets on Monday.
President Biden’s daily schedule link.
Follow me on Twitter @jamiedupree. Email me at jamiedupree@substack.com
See the full Regular Order archive.
I agree about the State of the Union. A letter would suffice. It’s been turned into a circus within a circus.
".....remember the Ford Administration...." Looking back, I remember in that era seeing a campaign button at the Fox Theater that said: "Vote for Betty's husband".