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Punchbowl News AM

Dems say it's time for the pen

March 11, 2022

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PRESENTED BY

BY JOHN BRESNAHAN, ANNA PALMER, JAKE SHERMAN AND HEATHER CAYGLE

WITH MAX COHEN AND CHRISTIAN HALL

THE TOP

Happy Friday morning from Philadelphia.

We picked up on an interesting dynamic here at the House Democratic Caucus Issues Conference this week.

More and more House Democrats are talking about pressing President Joe Biden to use his executive authority to enact big chunks of the party’s agenda.

It demonstrates a level of frustration with how stymied the legislative process has become on Capitol Hill. And, with the clock ticking down toward the November midterms – there are 242 days until Election Day – it’s a recognition that the calendar has become one of Democrats’ biggest enemies.

Here’s what we know

→	Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said her group will release a proposed slate of executive orders next week.

Jayapal wouldn’t lay out the specific proposals the group will push, but here’s what she had to say.

“We’re gonna make sure that we do everything we can to cut costs for American consumers. And that means that we are going to look at executive actions, and we’re going to look at legislation. I don’t want anyone to think that we believe that executive action is better than legislation. We would always prefer to have legislation. But certainly there are a lot of areas where a) if we don’t get legislation, the administration could take action and b) the administration can take action to help move us more quickly towards the goals that we’re working on.”

→	House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn — a close Biden ally — threw his considerable political weight behind the executive action strategy on Thursday as well.

“I did have a very extensive discussion on the extent to which the president may intercede on [his priorities] with executive orders. I tend to remind people all the time, that before the 13th Amendment was passed, it was in the summer 1865, slaves were freed in 1863 by executive order. So executive orders do have the power. The Armed Services were integrated by Harry Truman by executive order. I’d be very pleased if [Biden’s] legal staff could do some research on those two issues, as well as others to see whether that or not executive order can be used to accomplish some of these.

→	Rep. Raúl Ruiz (D-Calif.), the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said Biden should lift the refugee cap by executive order in order to help Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion.

Ruiz also said the CHC would have other ideas for executive orders, although he declined to offer details.

“The CHC has developed a strategy on executive orders, and we’re going to start negotiating with the administration very soon. There [is] a lot of capacity that we can do to reduce the backlog and to provide help for the immigrant family, women and children and help them on their path of professionalizing.

“And creating a professional, humane immigration system. One of the things that we are now at the cusp is reevaluating the title 42, the omicron surge is coming down, we have the capacity to test, to use precautionary measures, including vaccines that will help us address the pandemic.

“And of course, there are different ways that we can abolish the [Migrant Protection Protocols] program, which has shown to put children and vulnerable populations at risk for kidnappings, human trafficking while they stayed in Mexico. … [T]here’s gonna be more that we will discuss as soon as we have these very direct conversations with the administration. In terms of the Ukrainian war and refugees, I applaud the administration’s decision to grant TPS for Ukrainian, something that the Congressional Hispanic Caucus also called for. And those that reach our shores from now on from Ukraine should also be granted TPS status.”

→	It’s not only senior lawmakers such as Clyburn and Jayapal who are making this pitch.

Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), a freshman member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told us she wants to see executive action on two key immigration issues — expanding the DACA and Temporary Protected Status programs.

On DACA: “[The administration is] at a point where they are in the rulemaking and where they can reauthorize DACA and adjust it so it is applicable to today’s kids.”

On TPS: “We want to make sure that what you do with regards to detention and how you treat asylum seekers is appropriate, whether the asylum seeker or refugee is coming from Afghanistan, Ukraine, or the [Northern] Triangle.”

Remember: Biden is coming here today to talk to House Democrats. We’ll be in the room, and we’ll bring you the news from the appearance.

Punchbowl News x Rep. Hakeem Jeffries

Check it out: Heather Caygle, our managing editor, interviewed House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries at a Punchbowl News event in Philadelphia. We’ll have a bonus episode of the Daily Punch out soon with clips from the event. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Raising a glass at our event: Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (Mass.), House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Pete Aguilar (Calif.), Reps. Melanie Stansbury (N.M.), Sara Jacobs (Calif.), Steven Horsford (Nev.), Marc Veasey (Texas), Colin Allred (Texas), David Cicilline (R.I.), Jason Crow (Colo.), Nanette Barragán (Calif.), Ritchie Torres (N.Y.), Joe Morelle (N.Y.), Donald Norcross (N.J.) and Ted Lieu (Calif.), Pelosi’s staff and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s staff.

PRESENTED BY CLIMATE POWER

Investing in Clean Energy is Key to Real Energy Independence

By investing in clean energy here in America, we can speed up the production of cheaper, cleaner energy, like wind and solar, that isn’t impacted by foreign supply chain disruptions or conflicts overseas.

Accelerating the production of American-made clean energy through clean energy tax credits will reduce energy bills for families, saving the average household $500 every year.

Congress, it’s time to act.

INFLATION NATION

Yellen says inflation is here to stay for the next year

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told CNBC that inflation will be “very uncomfortably high” for the next year despite a strong U.S. economy. This clip will be a punch in the gut for House and Senate Democrats who are trying to keep their majorities in November.

THE FUNDING FIGHT

Senate passes $1.5T omnibus, government funded until October

The Senate passed the $1.5 trillion omnibus spending package on Thursday night, sending the measure onto President Joe Biden and ending months of partisan haggling over government funding levels.

The measure includes nearly $14 billion in aid for Ukraine and other U.S. allies in Eastern Europe. Thousands of Ukrainians have been killed or wounded following Russia’s brutal invasion more than two weeks ago, and 2 million-plus have fled their homes to avoid the fighting.

Thursday’s 68-31 vote was a win for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who had a strong week in terms of legislating. In addition to the omnibus, the Senate passed an anti-lynching bill and major postal reform legislation. And the omnibus package included a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which lapsed several years ago in a dispute over gun-related language.

“We’re keeping our promise to support Ukraine as they fight for their lives against the evil Vladimir Putin,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “With nearly $14 billion in emergency aid, Congress will approve more than double what the administration originally requested. We took the president’s original request for Ukrainian aid, examined it, and added to it, and every last penny of the money will be well spent.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also supported the package, noting significant GOP wins on defense spending, as well as on policy issues such as abortion and “poison pills.”

“It maintains longstanding, bipartisan policies such as protecting taxpayers against funding abortions and being politically targeted by the IRS,” McConnell noted. “And new far-left poison pills were cut out.”

Of the 31 “no” votes in the Senate, all were Republicans. These GOP senators complained loudly Thursday about the lack of time to review the 2,700-plus page bill, as well as the high level of spending, especially on social programs. Several GOP amendments were defeated before the final vote.

In the end, the old-school adage won out – nothing is as popular on Capitol Hill as spending a lot of money. And this omnibus package, hammered out by House and Senate appropriators, certainty does that. There’s a $46 billion increase in funding for non-defense programs, a 6.7% increase from last year. The Pentagon and other national security agencies get $41 billion more, a 5.6% increase.

The bill also includes hundreds of earmarks for members and senators for the first time in a decade. They’re not called earmarks anymore. They’re instead called “community project funding,” and they have to be thoroughly vetted to make sure lawmakers have no personal financial ties to the initiative.

They’re earmarks nonetheless and dozens of lawmakers in both parties will now have hundreds of projects they can brag about back home when they go before voters this fall.

Also: Schumer filed cloture on Thursday to end a filibuster on Shalanda Young’s nomination to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget. Young is currently the acting director of the agency. She’s expected to be confirmed next week.

→	Two fun fundraisers to flag for you. Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio), who represents a district near Columbus, will host a golf fundraiser with none other than former Speaker John Boehner. The event is June 16 in Galena, Ohio.

Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-Texas), a former Navy fighter pilot, is also hosting a private showing of Top Gun II on June 7.

PRESENTED BY CLIMATE POWER

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and profiteering by oil and gas CEOs are to blame for higher energy prices.

We can’t drill our way to real energy independence. We must accelerate the production of cheaper, cleaner energy, like wind and solar, that isn’t impacted by conflicts overseas.

Congress, it’s time to act.

FRONTS

MOMENTS

9 a.m.: Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the House Democratic leadership will hold a news conference in Philadelphia. … President Joe Biden will get his daily intelligence briefing.

10:15 a.m.: Biden will announce “actions to continue to hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked and unjustified war on Ukraine.”

10:45 a.m.: Biden will leave the White House for Andrews, where he’ll fly to Philadelphia. Andrew Bates will gaggle en route to Philly. He will arrive in Philadelphia at 11:45 a.m.

12:15 p.m.: Biden will address House Democrats at their retreat.

2:15 p.m.: Biden will tour an elementary school to mark the one-year anniversary of the American Rescue Plan.

3:50 p.m.: Biden will leave Philadelphia for Camp David, where he’ll stay for the weekend.

PRESENTED BY CLIMATE POWER

Clean Energy is the Key to Real Energy Independence

JOB MOVE

Starting Monday, Evan Hollander is joining the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee as the new executive director. Hollander has spent the last four years as communications director for the House Appropriations Committee Democrats under both Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and now former Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), chairs of the powerful panel. Hollander also served as communications director for Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.).

CLIP FILE

NYT

→	“Biden will call for suspending normal trade relations with Russia,” by Ana Swanson and Katie Rogers

→	“U.S. Battles Russia and China on Ukraine War Disinformation,” by Edward Wong

→	“Harris announces support for an investigation into possible war crimes by Russia,” by Zolan Kanno-Youngs in Warsaw and Glenn Thrush

→	“U.S. Says North Korea Is Testing a New Intercontinental Missile,” by David Sanger and William Broad

WaPo

→	“Oil price shock jolts global recovery as economic impact of Russia’s invasion spreads,” by David Lynch

→	“After more than two weeks of war, the Russian military grinds forward at a heavy cost,” by Griff Witte, Dan Lamothe, Karla Adam and Rick Noack

WSJ

→	“Amazon’s Washington Strategy Wins Few New Friends in the Biden Era,” by Dana Mattoli

Bloomberg

→	“Tech Walls Off Russia Like Never Before, Posing New Risks for U.S.,” by Katrina Manson

USA Today

→	“’Without a home again’: Jewish orphanage evacuates 300 children in Ukraine amid Russia invasion,” by Gabriela Miranda

PRESENTED BY CLIMATE POWER

Profiteering by oil and gas CEOs is to blame for higher energy prices in the United States. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is only making things worse.

The situation we face today is a powerful reminder that an economy tied to fossil fuels is unpredictable, making America dependent on the decisions of foreign leaders and oil company CEOs while forcing families to pay more at the pump and on their energy bills.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is further proof that America needs to swiftly move to a clean energy economy that will lower costs, protect our national security, and secure real energy independence.

Congress, it’s time to act.

Editorial photos provided by Getty Images

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Dems say it's time for the pen

THE TOP

Punchbowl News x Rep. Hakeem Jeffries

PRESENTED BY CLIMATE POWER

INFLATION NATION

Yellen says inflation is here to stay for the next year

THE FUNDING FIGHT

Senate passes $1.5T omnibus, government funded until October

PRESENTED BY CLIMATE POWER

FRONTS

MOMENTS

PRESENTED BY CLIMATE POWER

JOB MOVE

CLIP FILE

PRESENTED BY CLIMATE POWER

Crucial Capitol Hill news AM, Midday, and PM—5 times a week

The Canvass Year-End Report

Every single issue of Punchbowl News published, all in one place

Unlock access for more