The Archive

THE HOUSE

NEW: House Dems punting on police funding as progressives push back

The House is scheduled to return Friday to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, setting up a big win for President Joe Biden and the Democrats.

But Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democratic leaders are unlikely to move ahead with a series of bills to boost police funding, according to lawmakers and aides.

While vulnerable Frontliners and Democratic moderates are pressing the leadership for a floor vote on these measures, opposition from progressives and the Congressional Black Caucus has derailed this effort.

Progressives and the CBC were concerned about the lack of accountability language in the bills before the House left for the August recess, so a floor vote was delayed. The hope among Democrats at that time was they could work out their differences and take up the measures when the House returned to take up a reconciliation.

But it’s not happening apparently. And it’s not at all clear it can happen in September either, despite Pelosi’s support for the effort.

“Let’s not step on our message of unity and success with something that, honestly, will be very divisive,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told us in an interview on Monday.

A Democratic leadership source also said the CBC wants more time to work on these bills, further signaling that the leadership probably won’t be able to overcome opposition in the brief time the House is expected to be in session this week.

The accountability provisions that progressives and the CBC are seeking would spell out how police departments handle accusations of misconduct or improper behavior by officers. This has been a difficult issue to resolve, with police groups and Republicans balking at changes sought by Democrats in the wake of the George Floyd protests.

For their part, Frontliners and moderates want to rebut GOP claims that Democrats are soft on crime or seeking to “defund the police,” political attacks that were successful for Republicans in 2020. They’ve offered a series of measures to boost funding, especially for smaller police departments.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) has been the primary supporter of the police funding bill, banding together with the likes of Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and Katie Porter (D-Calif.). Gottheimer and Jayapal have alternatively worked together and sparred during this Congress, encapsulating the center vs. left battle in Democratic Party.

Also: Biden will hold two high-profile signing ceremonies at the White House today, part of the payoff for the recent Democratic run of success on Capitol Hill.

Biden will sign the CHIPS Plus bill in law at 10 a.m. in the Rose Garden. CEOs attending include Micron’s Sanjay Mehrotra, Intel’s Pat Gelsinger, Lockheed Martin’s Jim Taiclet, HP’s Enrique Lores and AMD’s Dr. Lisa Su.

Labor officials: IBEW President Lonnie Stephenson, UAW President Ray Curry and CWA President Chris Shelton.

Public officials: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio).

VP Kamala Harris, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimonda, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and OMB Director Shalanda Young will all be in attendance.

At 2 p.m., Biden will sign a resolution on Sweden and Finland joining NATO.

– John Bresnahan and Jake Sherman

FRANKING SEASON

Republicans crush Democrats on franking requests

As House Democrats fight to maintain their slim majority, Republicans are far outpacing Democrats in a crucial measure of constituent communication. Republican House offices have made over 3,000 more franking requests than their Democratic counterparts during the 117th Congress, according to internal House data obtained by Punchbowl News.

Last month, we reported that there were rising fears among top House Democratic aides that members weren’t taking advantage of their franking privileges to boost their public profiles at taxpayers’ expense ahead of the midterms.

Numbers that we got ahold of show that Democrats are right to be worried. House Republicans have made 8,643 franking requests this Congress, while Democrats have made 5,600. These numbers are current to the end of July.

Franking, if you’re not familiar, refers to mail and digital communication paid for by the federal government that incumbents can send to every household in their district. The mail has to be apolitical and approved by House authorities. But it’s a great – and cost free – way for lawmakers to play up their accomplishments to constituents.

New regulations that go into effect this year allow House lawmakers to send mass mailings up to 60 days before the general election. Previous rules started the franking blackout at 90 days before the general election.

Republican aides point to the franking “challenges” the GOP conference has hosted to explain the party’s mass mailing advantage. In 2020, GOP Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) won the conference franking challenge and was awarded a wrestling belt for his exploits. This Congress, the conference held a freshman franking contest that Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) won.

— Max Cohen

PRIMARY DAY IN AMERICA

What to watch for on primary day

It’s Tuesday and that means it’s primary day in America. Here are the key races we’re tracking.

Minnesota’s 1st District is a heavily Republican stronghold that is very likely to stay in GOP hands. Republican Brad Finstad is the favorite in today’s special election. Finstad, who beat out House Freedom Caucus-endorsed Jeremy Munson in a Republican primary earlier this year, is facing off against Democrat Jeff Ettinger.

The winner will likely be sworn into Congress this week. A Finstad victory won’t impact the Democratic advantage in the House due to the tragic death last week of Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.). Democrats will retain their four vote margin.

Kind’s retirement disappointed national Democrats who believed he was the only Democrat who could hang on to Wisconsin’s 3rd District. Donald Trump carried the district in 2020 by nearly five points. Kind has endorsed state Sen. Brad Pfaff in the Democratic primary. Pfaff, who has the backing of the New Dem Action Fund, is running against retired CIA officer Deb Baldus McGrath. McGrath went viral in June when she jumped out of a plane for a campaign ad.

Regardless of who advances out of the Democratic primary, Republican Derrick Van Orden is favored to win in November.

Trump is backing Tim Michels while Pence is endorsing former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch. The winner will take on Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in November in this swing state.

Over in the Democratic Senate primary, a previously captivating race turned into a one-man show during the past week when all of Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes’ opponents dropped out to endorse him. Barnes will face Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) in the general election. Democrats see Wisconsin as one of their best Senate pickup opportunities this cycle.

Balint is the favorite after receiving the endorsement of Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). The Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC is also backing Balint. Gray is endorsed by former Gov. Howard Dean and the New Dem Action Fund. This House seat is open because Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) is running for Sen. Pat Leahy’s (D-Vt.) seat. Leahy is retiring after 48 years in the Senate.

— Max Cohen

THE CAMPAIGN

– Jake Sherman

MOMENTS

9 a.m.: President Joe Biden will get his daily intelligence briefing.

10 a.m.: Biden will sign the CHIPS Plus bill.

2 p.m.: Biden will sign the resolution supporting Sweden and Finland entry into NATO.

2:40 p.m.: Karine Jean-Pierre will brief.

4 p.m.: Speaker Nancy Pelosi will enroll the PACT Act.

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