VETO THREAT IN WASHINGTON — The White House announced this morning the President JOE BIDEN would veto several GOP-backed spending bills should they reach his desk, and further claimed that Speaker KEVIN McCARTHY hasn’t followed through on the spending caps agreed upon in late spring’s debt ceiling deal. From OMB’s statement of administration policy: “House Republicans had an opportunity to engage in a productive, bipartisan appropriations process, but instead, with just over two months before the end of the fiscal year, are wasting time with partisan bills that cut domestic spending to levels well below the [Fiscal Responsibility Act] agreement and endanger critical services for the American people.” Biden is also prepared to block the Republican-led agriculture, rural development and Food and Drug Administration spending bill, per a separate OMB statement using much of the same language. NON-VETO THREAT IN JERUSALEM — The divisive judiciary reform bill backed by PM BENJAMIN NETANYAHU passed the Israeli Knesset this morning in a 64-0 vote after all members of the opposition walked out. For months, the proposal has been at the heart of a roiling controversy, with mass demonstrations protesting the bill’s weakening of the independent Supreme Court’s power to block laws passed by the government. But the disagreement has broader implications “about the nature and future of Israeli society,” NYT’s Isabel Kershner and Patrick Kingsley report from Jerusalem: “The ruling coalition and its base generally have a more religious and conservative vision, and see the court as an obstacle to that goal.” The U.S. angle: The vote comes a day after President JOE BIDEN urged Israel to take a cautious approach on the issue in a statement to Axios’ Barak Ravid, saying that “it doesn’t make sense for Israeli leaders to rush this.” The vote also comes after Biden invited Netanyahu to visit Washington in September following a tense phone conversation last week. The White House’s response: “It is unfortunate that the vote today took place with the slimmest possible majority. We understand talks are ongoing and likely to continue over the coming weeks and months to forge a broader compromise even with the Knesset in recess.” STAFFING UP — “Biden chooses a longtime Hill aide respected by Republicans as his new legislative affairs director,” by AP’s Seung Min Kim: “President Joe Biden is tapping SHUWANZA GOFF — a veteran congressional aide who also served as his main point of contact to the House at the start of the administration — as his new director of legislative affairs, making her the first Black woman to be the White House’s chief emissary to Capitol Hill. … “Goff, 38, previously served as the White House’s deputy director of legislative affairs and House liaison, making her the main point of contact to House lawmakers. She left the administration earlier this year for the private sector before rejoining the White House.” GRANITE STATE UPDATE — Former Sen. KELLY AYOTTE (R-N.H.) announced this morning that she’s running for New Hampshire governor, following last week’s announcement that incumbent Republican Gov. CHRIS SUNUNU will not seek reelection. “I am running for Governor because I fear that we are one election away from turning into Massachusetts,” Ayotte tweeted, “Together, we will ensure that we keep New Hampshire safe, prosperous and free.” More from WMUR ON THE GROUND IN IOWA — Despite DONALD TRUMP’s growing legal woes and the looming threat of a third indictment, Republicans in the Hawkeye State are still staunch in their support of the former president’s presidential campaign, WaPo’s Sabrina Rodriguez reports from the county fair in Boone, Iowa: “Trump continues to have a tight grip on the party, even among those who have grown weary of his rhetoric and legal troubles. … [M]any GOP voters wrote off the former president’s legal challenges as part of a continued liberal smear campaign and said it didn’t impact the image — positive or negative — they already have of him.” Good Monday afternoon. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line: birvine@politico.com
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