POLITICS: House Republicans are making an ambitious policy play in anticipation of success in the November midterm election, setting up a number of likely clashes with the president on COVID-19 protocols and restrictions, border security and Big Tech, among other items. As The Hill’s Mike Lillis writes, Biden’s low approval ratings and the continued rise of inflation have opened the door wide open to opportunity for the minority party. The GOP believes it is ready to seize the moment as it puts together a list of policy priorities to serve as the nexus of the party’s arguments heading into November. “I assume it will be rolled out, probably by early summer, in time for members to go home and talk about it in town halls and run on it,” said Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), the vice chair of the House GOP conference. “It’s all coming together.” > Retirements: House Democrats were dealt another blow on Tuesday as Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.), a moderate lawmaker who has sparred with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in years past, announced on her 57th birthday that she will not run for reelection in November, becoming the 30th Democratic member to decide to leave Congress. Rice, a former prosecutor and district attorney, said in a statement that it has been an “honor” to serve in office, but that lawmakers “must give all we have and then know when it is time to allow others to serve.” “Though I will not be running for re-election to Congress this year, I will remain focused on protecting our democracy and serving my constituents throughout the rest of my term,” she said. Rice, a fourth-term lawmaker, won reelection by about 13 points in 2020. Unlike some House Democrats, her district was not significantly altered in the redistricting process (The Hill). Politico: Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) torches Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) over Senate endorsement. Julia Manchester, The Hill: Democrats seek midterm course-correct in suburbs. > Total Recall: The political winds swirled in San Francisco on Tuesday as voters recalled three members of the city’s school board in a referendum on how it handled education during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the San Francisco Department of Elections, 79 percent of voters backed a recall of Alison Collins, 75 percent to oust Gabriela López and 72 percent supporting the removal of Faauuga Moliga. San Francisco Mayor London Breed is now tasked with appointing replacements to serve on the board until the November election (SFGate). Reuters: School boards get death threats amid rage over race, gender, mask policies. Alexander Bolton, The Hill: GOP scrambles to figure out what Trump legal drama means for the future. Washington Examiner: Pennsylvania GOP Senate primary candidates Mehmet Oz and David McCormick wage a pitched battle for Trump’s endorsement. > State Watch: Several states are moving anti-transgender bills this week as the culture wars continue to target a population described by researchers as prone to depression and suicide (The Hill). … Two former Hawaii lawmakers, Ty Cullen and J. Kalani English, accused of taking bribes in exchange for shaping legislation while in office, pleaded guilty and face potentially lengthy prison sentences (The Associated Press). ***** CONGRESS: For the first time in more than a year, the Food and Drug Administration has a new permanent commissioner after the Senate confirmed Robert Califf to the post in a 50-46 vote. Califf’s nomination was surprisingly contentious after he was confirmed to the same position six years ago, 89-4. Five senators on the Democratic side — Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Ed Markey (Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) and Maggie Hassan (N.H.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — voted against him on Tuesday, with most of the criticisms aimed at Califf's ties to pharmaceutical companies and the FDA’s record on opioid approvals. However, six Senate Republicans crossed over to back Califf to head the agency: Sens. Roy Blunt (Mo.), Richard Burr (N.C.), Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Mitt Romney (Utah) and Patrick Toomey (Pa.). Burr dubbed Califf a “supremely qualified nominee with bipartisan support,” though anti-abortion groups pressured GOP senators to vote against his confirmation. “The FDA has an opportunity to be forever changed for the better, but it needs effective leadership to get there,” he said prior to the vote (The Hill). The Associated Press: Jan. 6 panel subpoenas 6 more in fake GOP electors scheme. > Funding fight: The Senate drew closer to a vote on a stopgap bill to fund the federal government through March 11 after Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) withdrew her hold on the bill after receiving assurances from the Department of Health and Human Services that no taxpayer funds will be used to fund crack pipes (The Hill). The news from Blackburn’s came hours after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told reporters that the country is in “no danger” of a government shutdown going into effect later this week. “As is often the case, we’ll process a few amendments before doing the short-term CR. I think it’ll all be worked out,” McConnell said, using the shorthand moniker for a continuing resolution. “There’s no danger of a government shutdown” (C-SPAN). The Hill: Senate seeks offramp as funding deadline nears. Politico: A ban on federal abortion funds is likely to remain despite Democratic promises to expand access. The Washington Post: White House, congressional Democrats eye pause of federal gas tax as prices remain high, election looms. The Hill: Judiciary under microscope as Congress weighs stock trade ban. > Fed up: Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee erected a blockade on Tuesday, holding up five of Biden’s nominees to positions at the Federal Reserve over their continued opposition to Sarah Bloom Raskin to serve as the Fed’s regulatory chief. All 12 GOP members on the panel boycotted a Tuesday meeting where the committee was set to advance the five nominations, including Jerome Powell to a second term as Fed chair, because Raskin was not taken off the slate for the day. Chief among the Republican complaints is that she provided insufficient and misleading answers about her history on the board of a payments company that obtained access to the Fed’s payment processing system. Toomey (pictured below) maintained that the blockade was not related to her policy views (which he says are disqualifying), but rather questions about her work history (The Hill). The Hill: White House brushing off Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-S.C.) handicapping of high court choice. Axios: How much members of Congress are spending on personal security. © Associated Press/J. Scott Applewhite |
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