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PRESENTED BY

BY JOHN BRESNAHAN, ANNA PALMER AND JAKE SHERMAN
WITH MAX COHEN AND CHRISTIAN HALL

THE TOP

Happy Thursday morning.

News from CNN: "Symone Sanders, Harris’ chief spokesperson, to leave White House"

Sanders is the second top Harris communication aide to leave in recent days. Ashley Etienne, the communications director, is also departing. So a shakeup is clearly underway in the VP’s office.

Deadlines? Congress doesn’t do them

After this week, there’s only one conclusion you can come to about the 117th Congress: They’re not very good when it comes to meeting legislative deadlines. Like really bad. We’re being completely bipartisan here. It’s both parties that are failing to get their jobs done. And both parties are guilty of allowing institutional weaknesses to fester that makes it quite difficult to legislate.

We recognize rising partisanship and the ugly emotional hangover from the Donald Trump era make it far tougher to get things done in Congress. The House, in particular, is a bitterly dysfunctional body right now where party leaders can barely keep the lid on things. The fallout from the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters continues to impact everything and everyone.

And there have been some successes. Passage of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan early in the year was a major win for President Joe Biden and the Democrats. That the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill passed the Senate with 69 votes seems like nothing short of a miracle. Juneteenth was made a federal holiday, which, given the vibe in the building, seems stunning.

But both chambers have also wasted enormous amounts of time and failed to keep up with routine housekeeping. It’s Dec. 2 and the Congress hasn’t adopted any of the 12 annual appropriations bills. The nation may reach its debt limit in less than two weeks. The defense authorization bill — passed every year for the last six decades — is unfinished. This is a miserable record, and lawmakers know it.

In this very critical month, take a look at what’s going on:

→ NDAA: The Senate still hasn’t voted on this must-pass legislation and it’s not clear when it will. Democrats waited too long to bring it to the floor, yes, but for the last few days, it’s been GOP senators who’ve stalled the measure. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell — joined by Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), the chair and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee — tried to get unanimous consent Wednesday night to begin considering the package, a process which would’ve included votes on more than 20 amendments. But several Republicans objected, including Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who is pushing an amendment focused on Uyghur Muslim forced-labor camps.

Schumer complained bitterly that Rubio’s amendment violates the prohibition against revenue measures originating in the Senate. The New York Democrat warned that the amendment could doom the entire bill if it was adopted.

“One senator, the senator from Florida, stood in the way,” Schumer said. “The irony, the sort of absurdity and sadness of this, is that if his amendment were on the bill, it would automatically kill the bill. Because it would be what’s called ‘blue slipped’ in the House. Which means any bill that produces revenue must start in the House.”

Schumer added: “This will be the first time that an NDAA bill has not moved forward, and it all falls on the shoulders of one senator — Marco Rubio.”

Rubio pushed back, saying the real reason that his amendment isn’t being considered is because it would put Democrats in a political bind.

“This is not about revenue [generation]. CBO said it’s insignificant,” said Rubio, who noted U.S. companies including Apple and Nike have lobbied against the proposal. “This is about the fact that they don’t want this bill to pass over in the House.”

Rubio also pointed out that his proposal has previously been adopted by the Senate unanimously but failed to go anywhere in the House.

GOP sources suggested that a deal will be worked out, and it probably will. But it was another lost day in the Senate.

→ Government funding: Federal agencies run out of money at midnight on Friday, yet Congress hasn’t agreed to a deal on a stopgap spending bill. Now, we heard late last night that a deal was “very close” and could come together this morning. So a shutdown should be averted. Or if one does happen, it would occur on a weekend and have very limited — if any — real-world impact. That’s the hope for House leaders going into today, at least.

In fact, due to the Senate’s rules, it would be quicker at this point to cut a deal to avoid a shutdown than to go through the normal legislative process.

Wednesday was a perfect example of the dysfunction on Capitol Hill. Again, this is a Senate GOP-originated problem, although Democrats failed to force the issue when they had a chance to act.

GOP Sens. Mike Lee (Utah), Roger Marshall (Kan.) and other Republicans are asking for a vote on their proposal barring vaccine mandates that Biden has ordered for U.S. companies. Now, federal judges have already blocked the mandate rule from being implemented and the issue is being litigated in courts. But Lee, Marshall and the other Republicans are calling for an amendment vote at a 50-vote threshold. They’re willing to make a deal with Democrats to speed up consideration of the bill and avoid a shutdown, as long as they get a vote.

This isn’t much of a threat at all, as a matter of fact. However, since Democrats delayed so long in moving a funding bill in the first place, Lee and the other Republicans could force a brief funding lapse early next week unless they get what they want.

Some Republicans are also lobbying to expedite a vote on a resolution by Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) to use the Congressional Review Act to disapprove of the Biden vaccine rule. That vote is supposed to happen next week.

As we noted at the top, Democrats are very hopeful a deal will be reached to resolve this standoff. However, the point is that this could’ve all been handled much more effectively.

→ Debt limit: Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned that the federal government could run out of the ability to borrow more money by Dec. 15. While budget experts believe the real “X date” is sometime in January, Yellen hasn’t changed her position. So Congress needs to act.

Schumer and McConnell have been very quietly negotiating on this issue, and the hope is they get a deal soon. Yet it hasn’t happened at this point. And again, because of the glacial pace of Senate action, the leaders must reach an agreement soon in order to ensure there isn’t a debt default.

→ BBB: It’s already been two weeks since the House passed the $1.7 trillion Build Back Better Act, and so far, not much has occurred in the Senate. Part of the delay was the Thanksgiving recess. But the Senate parliamentarian hasn’t even ruled officially on all the provisions in the House bill yet, so no one knows what’s in or out at this point. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is insisting he won’t back a paid leave provision backed by progressives, and Democrats are fighting among themselves over the state-and-local tax (SALT) deduction.

Schumer has declared repeatedly that he wants BBB through the Senate by Christmas. But as one senator joked with us yesterday, “Chuck didn’t say which Christmas.”

Deadlines are hard — remember high school and college? No one likes getting things done on time. But get it together. This isn’t college. It’s Congress.

Reminder: We have two events coming up! Don’t miss Anna in conversation with Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) on the impact of the child tax credit on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 12:30 pm ET (RSVP). Then, we’re talking to Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) about infrastructure implementation and access to broadband on Tuesday, Dec. 14 at 4:30 pm ET (RSVP).

REMEMBER THIS GUY

Paul Ryan gets his Ways and Means portrait

Former Speaker Paul Ryan has, more or less, stayed out of the public eye since retiring from Congress in 2019. He got a place in the D.C. area, started a SPAC, joined the private equity firm Solamere Capital as a partner, has a non-profit foundation and taught at Notre Dame.

Well, last night, Ryan returned to the Capitol to see his portrait unveiled in the Ways and Means Committee room. This is the first of two major portraits he’ll get in the Capitol. As a former speaker, Ryan will have his portrait hung in the Speaker’s Lobby, a space which runs the length of the House floor. 

You’ll notice here that Ryan is sporting a bit of a fuller hairdo, for what it’s worth. Anyway, we digress. Thanks to Caleb Smith, Kevin McCarthy’s digital communications director and a former Ryan aide, for the photo.  

BEHIND THE SCENES

Hoyer and Trone will give $500k each to House Democratic super PAC

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Maryland Democratic Rep. David Trone will announce at a reception this morning that they will each give a half-million dollars to House Majority PAC, the party’s leading super PAC.

The announcement of the $1 million from the Marylanders will come at an HMP reception for House frontliners, a source told us. 

Hoyer and Trone are trying to signal confidence in Democrats’ prospects for keeping the House in 2022. Hoyer particularly appreciates HMP’s efforts to boost the American Rescue Plan, the Covid relief package passed earlier this year, and the bipartisan infrastructure bill. HMP, of course, will be key in the Democrats’ efforts next year. As of their last filing in June, HMP had $13.5 million on hand. They will have to file again at the end of this year.

INFLATION

With inflation soaring, House Dems call for action to address supply chain crisis

A group of more than 20 House Democrats led by Reps. Cindy Axne (Iowa), Susie Lee (Nev.) and Susan Wild (Pa.), are calling on party leaders to move quickly to pass legislation addressing the ongoing supply chain problems, which is helping to drive an alarming spike in inflation. Axne and Lee are vulnerable in 2022 and are getting slammed by Republican PACs on the airwaves, while Wild could also face a tough reelection depending on new district lines in Pennsylvania.

“We are concerned about the ongoing disruptions to our nation’s supply chain, which are causing delays and increasing inflation for our constituents,” the Democrats told Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer in a letter released today. “We are pleased that the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has been signed into law by President Biden and encouraged by the continued work on the Build Back Better Act. These are key steps in addressing these supply chain problems and lowering costs for people, but Congress must do more. We urge additional action by the House of Representatives to further address the disruptions and higher costs our constituents are experiencing.”

The Democrats added: “It is imperative Congress acts to address the needs of the nation through additional action to specifically address the supply chain and resulting higher prices experienced by families across the country. We respectfully ask that the House swiftly considers the numerous bills written by our colleagues that will support domestic manufacturing and provide additional solutions to our supply chain crisis.” 

The letter was also signed by Democratic Reps. Carolyn Bourdeaux (Ga.), Angie Craig (Minn.), Ed Case (Hawaii), Lou Correa (Calif.), Antonio Delgado (N.Y.), Debbie Dingell (Mich.), Josh Gottheimer (N.J.), John Garamendi (Calif.), Josh Harder (Calif.), Jahana Hayes (Conn.), Kathy Manning (N.C.), Lucy McBath (Ga.), Tom O’Halleran (Ariz.), Scott Peters (Calif.), Kathleen Rice (N.Y.), Brad Schneider (Ill.), Elissa Slotkin (Mich.), Mikie Sherrill (N.J.), and Haley Stevens (Mich).

Axne recently released a “Supply Chain Solutions Agenda,” a package of bipartisan bills she believes Congress should take up to help deal with the situation.

THE WORKFORCE FEATURING ANTONIO TIJERINO

Antonio Tijerino calls for urgent action in workforce development

Our fourth and final profile of The Workforce features Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. Tijerino’s focus is on helping young Latinos break into a variety of sectors from health care to data science and entrepreneurship. 

When considering the future workforce, Tijerino thinks the pathway will go straight through Latinos. "It’s clear that the labor market and the broader economy is going to be more dependent on our young dynamic population,” Tijerino said. There’s a historical basis for this trend as well. “According to the 2021 US Latino GDP Report, Latinos contributed close to 75% of the entire labor force expansion that has taken place since the Great Recession of 13 years ago," Tijerino noted.

Overall, Tijerino stresses the importance of urgent action when dealing with workforce development issues in the public and private sector. "I want to always stress that we need to be more impatient in everything we do. I know it’s contrary, but we need to be more impatient with our advocacy. We need to be more impatient with preparing for the workforce of the future."

Read more from Tijerino here and catch up on our first three profiles today! 

SNEAK PEEK

Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes penning a book on Bill and Hillary Clinton

Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes, who have written several New York Times bestsellers, have a new book coming out: this time about Bill and Hillary Clinton. The book will be called “CLINTON,” and will be published by William Morrow. Clinton is “a dual biography of Bill and Hillary Clinton that traces the rise and fade of the most powerful political power couple in American history.”

Here’s a bit more from the publisher: 

CLINTON is a major political biography about the only marriage in American history to produce a president, a secretary of State, a U.S. senator, a governor and two major-party presidential nominees. With unrivaled, deep sources inside Clintonworld, CLINTON take readers from Vietnam to the White House to 9/11 to the defeat of Donald Trump, revealing the historical, political and personal moments that forged their identities, providing juicy new details alongside expert context and analysis.

Allen and Parnes have written “HRC” about Hillary Clinton, “Shattered,” about Clinton’s failed 2016 race and “Lucky,” about the 2020 race. We worked with Jon and Amie at Politico — and they are great reporters and friends.

FRONTS

MOMENTS

9:20 a.m.: Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Charlotte.

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

10:45 a.m.: Speaker Nancy Pelosi will hold her weekly news conference.

11 a.m.: Jen Psaki will brief. 

11:20 a.m.: Harris and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will tour the Charlotte Area Transit System Bus and Light Rail garage. 

11:55 a.m.: Harris will speak about the new infrastructure law.

12:45 p.m.: Biden will leave the White House for Walter Reed, where he will visit the NIH.

1:40 p.m.: Biden will speak about the omicron variant of Covid-19. 

2:25 p.m.: Biden will leave Walter Reed for the White House.

2:50 p.m.: Harris will leave Charlotte for D.C.

5:30 p.m.: The First and Second families will light the national Christmas tree.

CLIP FILE

NYT

→ “Omicron Could Knock a Fragile Economic Recovery Off Track,” by Patricia Cohen in London 

→ “Biden Projects Normalcy and Optimism as Omicron Poses New Threat,” by Jim Tankersley

→ “Abortion Decision Could Spill Into Midterm Elections,” by Carl Hulse

WaPo

→ “ICE holds growing numbers of immigrants at private facilities despite Biden campaign promise to end practice,” by Maria Sacchetti in Hackensack, N.J.

CNN

→ “January 6 committee moves to hold former DOJ official in contempt but also gives him one last chance to cooperate,” by Annie Grayer, Ryan Nobles, Zachary Cohen and Whitney Wild

WSJ

→ “MLB Owners Lock Out Players in Battle Over the Game’s Economics,” by Jared Diamond

LAT

→ “California confirms nation’s first Omicron variant coronavirus case,” by Luke Money, Rong-Gong Lin II and Maura Dolan

→ “L.A. voters angry, frustrated over homeless crisis, demand faster action, poll finds,” by Benjamin Oreskes and David Lauter

AP

→ “Omicron and delta spell return of unpopular restrictions,” by Lori Hinnant

→ “Biden launching winter COVID-19 booster, testing campaign,” by Zeke Miller

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Editorial photos provided by Getty Images