The Archive
Every issue of the Punchbowl News newsletter, including our special editions, right here at your fingertips.
Join the community, and get the morning edition delivered straight to your inbox.
March 2, 2023
Presented by Wells Fargo
At Wells Fargo, we cover more rural markets than many large banks, and nearly 30% of our branches are in low- or moderate-income census tracts. What we say, we do. See how.
PRESENTED BY
THE TOP
Happy Thursday morning from Washington and Baltimore.
If you’re registered for the House Democratic retreat here in Charm City as a reporter, lawmaker or aide, please join us this afternoon at 4 p.m. for Punchbowl News’ “Cocktails and Conversation.” Our managing editor Heather Caygle will interview House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar in the retreat hotel as part of the festivities. RSVP here.
Let’s start with this: President Joe Biden addressed House Democrats last night, a marquee moment for any retreat. The speech was the first half of Biden’s congressional one-two punch. The president will speak at the Senate Democratic Caucus lunch today in the Capitol.
But a healthy contingent of House Democrats hung back in D.C. last night and skipped Biden’s speech. They went instead to the Gershwin Awards’ Joni Mitchell concert at D.A.R. Concert Hall. Reps. Maxwell Frost (Fla.), Earl Blumenauer (Ore.), Steve Cohen (Tenn.), Dan Kildee (Mich.), Mark Takano (Calif.), Andy Kim (N.J.), Katie Porter (Calif.), Pramila Jayapal (Wash.), Lloyd Doggett (Texas), Hillary Scholten (Mich.) and Greg Casar (Texas) were all at the concert.
Ouch.
For those who missed Biden’s appearance, we’ve got you covered. The president focused on a theme close to many Democrats’ hearts during his public speech: implementing the sweeping laws passed during the 117th Congress. Biden promised to ensure their constituents know it was House Democrats who delivered the goods.
Biden also addressed the looming debt-limit fight by calling on Speaker Kevin McCarthy to unveil the GOP’s FY24 budget, including how Republicans want to reduce spending. Plus, Biden continued taking shots at his favorite GOP foils: Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
“A little bit more Marjorie Taylor Greene and a few more, and you’re going to have a lot of Republicans running our way,” Biden said. “Isn’t she amazing? Oof.”
Speaking at a Q&A session with members behind closed doors after his speech, Biden dished on his unprecedented trip to Kyiv on Feb. 20. The president joked that the only brave thing about the trip into an active war zone was the 20 hours he spent on the train. The famed Amtrak enthusiast noted that he’s ridden a lot of trains during his lifetime.
Biden added that he’s confident Ukraine will prevail against the Russian invasion with continued U.S. support. Democrats gave Biden a standing ovation during his remarks on Ukraine.
Here’s what House Democrats are doing behind closed doors today:
| → | They will talk about the Inflation Reduction Act and “how to maximize historic climate investments.” |
| → | There’s a panel on gun safety. |
| → | Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), the Congressional Hispanic Caucus chair, will moderate a panel on the “realities at the border.” |
| → | DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene and Amy Walter of the The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter will be on a panel about taking back the House. |
| → | Vice President Kamala Harris will have a conversation with House Minority Whip Katherine Clark. |
| → | Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, EPA Administrator Michael Regan, OMB Director Shalanda Young and White House infrastructure czar Mitch Landrieu will talk about “implementing laws that make life better for everyday Americans.” |
| → | Reps. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-N.Y.), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) will appear on a panel about how to “be successful in the minority.” |
Here’s the schedule, if you need it.
— Jake Sherman, Heather Caygle and Max Cohen
NEW: More Event Updates!
Later this month: Join us on Tuesday, March 28 at 9 a.m. ET for an interview with House Financial Services Committee Chair Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.). We’ll be chatting with McHenry about news of the day and his priorities for the committee. RSVP here to join us in-person at The Roost or on the livestream! This conversation is the first of a three-part series, Capital and American Business, presented by Apollo Global Management.
THE SENATE
Sanders preps rare HELP subpoena for Starbucks’ Schultz
The Senate HELP Committee doesn’t normally issue subpoenas. In fact, the panel has never approved a subpoena to compel witness testimony. HELP has only ever issued two subpoenas for documents — in 1983 and 2006 — according to a recent National Archives review shared with us.
But under Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the committee is slated to vote next week to force a witness to appear. And the target will be someone who’s long been in Sanders’ crosshairs: billionaire Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz.
Sanders is likely to prevail in Wednesday’s subpoena vote on Schultz. It’s part of his campaign to highlight the company’s labor practices, including its anti-union stance.
A National Labor Relations Board judge ruled on Wednesday that Starbucks had engaged in “egregious and widespread misconduct” in opposing a union-organizing drive in Buffalo, N.Y. The company must reinstate a number of fired workers, among other steps.
The subpoena threat shows that Sanders is adopting an aggressive posture atop the panel — a stark departure from the norm for HELP Committee chairs.
Sanders told us last night that he’s spoken to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer about the Schultz subpoena. When asked if Schumer is supportive of the effort, Sanders responded jovially: “Don’t put words in my mouth… We need to get the votes on the committee, and I think we have a good chance to do that.”
Other HELP Democrats said they were prepared to back Sanders’ efforts, despite not knowing exactly where he wants to take the panel.
“We wrote a letter inviting Mr. Schultz to come [testify]. He chose not to,” said Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.). “He should’ve come. I don’t understand why there was a refusal to come and chat.”
“I think anybody who is asked to testify or get in front of Congress should testify,” added Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.). “It’s highly unusual. We haven’t subpoenaed someone in a long time. And it should be someplace where they really feel this person has critical information and will shed light on an issue where we won’t be able to make as good a decision” without it.
Asked if Schultz meets that test, Hickenlooper said, “I’m not involved in the details of where [Sanders] is going on it, but that’s certainly the way they’re communicating it to me.”
Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the top Republican on HELP, said he won’t support the subpoena but declined to comment on Sanders’ strategy, adding: “He’s the chairman, he’s got that right.”
Starbucks said last month that Schultz would be transitioning out of the role of interim CEO beginning soon, so the company offered up a different executive to testify before the panel. The executive, AJ Jones II, “is best positioned to fully address the workforce policy matters raised,” the company said.
Sanders has rejected this overture and plans to move ahead with a subpoena vote.
– John Bresnahan and Andrew Desiderio
INSIDE THE HOUSE GOP LEADERSHIP
Stefanik’s big 2022 – and what’s next
House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik raised $18 million for candidates, incumbents and Republican committees last cycle, a massive sum that puts the New York Republican near the top of the GOP fundraising hierarchy.
Stefanik’s fundraising truly picked up when she became a vocal and ardent defender of former President Donald Trump during his first impeachment trial. Since then, Stefanik’s online fundraising has exploded.
Here’s a bit of what Stefanik has been up to this year so far and what she has in store.
| → | In the first quarter of 2023, Stefanik has raised money in New York, Connecticut, Miami, Palm Beach, Orlando, Dallas and Houston, raking in $150,000 at each stop. |
| → | Stefanik is hosting monthly briefings for donors in D.C. and has monthly fly-in day dinners featuring members of the House Republican Conference. |
| → | On Aug. 6-7, Stefanik will host a summer event at Saratoga Race Track. |
The New York Republican will be center stage later this month at the House GOP retreat in Orlando, Fla.
– Jake Sherman
PRESENTED BY META
BORDER TRIP
Cornyn leads another Senate group to the U.S.-Mexico border
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) will lead another group of Senate Republicans this week to the U.S.-Mexico border, which has suddenly turned into a hot spot for lawmakers.
Senate Minority Whip John Thune will be part of the group, as are GOP Sens. Pete Ricketts (Neb.), Deb Fischer (Neb.) and Roger Wicker (Miss.).
This is the second group of senators that Cornyn has taken to the border just this year. The Republicans will be traveling to south Texas this time.
House Judiciary Committee Republicans held a field hearing in Yuma, Ariz., last week, while their Democratic counterparts will visit Brownsville, Texas, in mid-March.
The Senate GOP codel will attend a Border Patrol overnight shift muster, then do a night patrol with the National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents Border Patrol agents.
On Friday, they’ll get a briefing from Customs and Border Protection officials and tour a migrant processing center. Then there’s a meeting with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the South Texas Landowners group. That’s followed by a river tour of the Rio Grande, with a press conference in Anzalduas Park in Mission, Texas.
Here’s Cornyn:
–John Bresnahan
… AND THERE’S MORE
Gonzales faces censure back home, Sánchez takes over BOLD PAC
The Texas Republican Party will vote to censure Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) in Austin Saturday morning over his support for gay marriage and a gun-control package during the last Congress.
Gonzales’ district includes Uvalde, where 19 students and two teachers were killed in a horrific mass shooting at Robb Elementary School last May.
State party officials called it a rare rebuke against a party member. The last person to be censured by the State Republican Executive Committee was former Texas House Speaker Joe Straus in 2018 for similar opposition he had against legislation pushed by conservatives.
The upcoming vote was first reported by the San Antonio Report.
Gonzales was given a 16-day notice to respond to the Texas GOP and an invitation to appear and make his case. His office didn’t return a request for comment.
In other news: Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) will be the next chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ BOLD PAC, the campaign arm announced on Wednesday. We have some more details on Sánchez’s election and her plans for the PAC.
Sánchez will officially take over from Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), who’s running for Senate, on April 1. Sánchez won the majority of the CHC’s votes during a secret ballot election on Wednesday.
The California Democrat will be the first Latina to run BOLD PAC, and her election means all of the leadership staff at the group will be Latinas. We’re told electing more Latinas to Congress and combating disinformation will be main priorities for Sánchez.
The CHC itself has suffered from severe staffing shortages in recent weeks, most notably exacerbated by the firing of the group’s executive director. Members even weighed removing Chair Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), but no action was taken following a members-only meeting last month.
— Mica Soellner and Max Cohen
PRESENTED BY META
Crucial Capitol Hill news AM, Midday, and PM—5 times a week
Join a community of some of the most powerful people in Washington and beyond. Exclusive newsmaker events, parties, in-person and virtual briefings and more.
Subscribe to Premium
The Canvass Year-End Report
And what senior aides and downtown figures believe will happen in 2023.
Check it outEvery single issue of Punchbowl News published, all in one place
Visit the archive
Presented by Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo has donated ~$2 billion over the last five years to help build a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and other community needs. What we say, we do. See how.