Playbook PM: Progressives apoplectic over Manchin’s latest move

May 26, 2021

By Ryan Lizza, Eli Okun and Garrett Ross

Presented by Facebook

HAPPENING NOW: Principal deputy press secretary KARINE JEAN-PIERRE is taking the podium in the White House briefing room for the first time.

— The NYT calls Karine Jean-Pierre's briefing "an appearance that is seen both internally and externally as an audition for the press secretary job. … Ms. Jean-Pierre will be the first openly gay spokeswoman and the first Black woman in decades to address journalists on behalf of the president in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room." Watch here

This morning we noted the confusing emergence of a second bipartisan group of senators working on an infrastructure deal. The group, which consists of four Republicans (MITT ROMNEY, SUSAN COLLINS, ROB PORTMAN and BILL CASSIDY) and four Democrats (JOE MANCHIN, KYRSTEN SINEMA, JEANNE SHAHEEN and JON TESTER ), is a subgroup of the so-called G-20 senators who have been at the center of these talks (and who drove bipartisan Covid legislation last year).

This subgroup — let's call it the G-8 — formed to work on pay-fors when it was clear to some members that the SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO plan was light on details in that department. On Tuesday, Romney floated three G-8 ideas to raise revenue:

— Indexing the gas tax, which pays for road projects via the Highway Trust Fund, to inflation.

— Making electric vehicle owners, who obviously don't pay gas taxes, contribute to that fund.

— Clawing back unspent Covid relief funds from states that don't need them.

It's safe to say that the Biden administration isn't excited about any of these proposals and is still holding out hope that, if a deal is to be had, Republicans will come around on hiking the corporate tax rate. The White House has been especially withering on user fees as a pay-for, and officials tell us that there is no enthusiasm for robbing already appropriated funds from the American Rescue Plan.

So there's a lot of head-scratching about the point of the G-8's backup plan. In a round of conversations today, progressives in Congress were especially apoplectic about this development. Here's what one Democratic senator told us:

"Joe Manchin saying he's got another group within the group is causing consternation and undermines the credibility of the effort and builds momentum towards reconciliation. Joe is overplaying his hand. Again. How in the world would a less ambitious plan be a backup? Like how would that get any meaningful number of votes?"

Then again, as a senior Senate GOP aide said when hearing about the latest progressive backlash against Manchin, "But what's their alternative?"

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BITES FROM THE HILL TODAY:

— ON BIDEN'S LEFT FLANK: Rep. FRANK PALLONE (D-N.J.) and Sen. PATTY MURRAY (D-Wash.) announced they're working on an Obamacare public option bill — even though President JOE BIDEN seems likely to keep a public option out of his budget proposal.

— YELLIN' FOR YELLEN: Treasury Secretary JANET YELLEN got a bipartisan earful (in absentia) as House Small Business Chair NYDIA VELAZQUEZ (D-N.Y.) said she "declined to appear before us in complete disregard for the law, which requires her to do so." More from Zachary Warmbrodt

— IMMIGRATION FILES: DHS Secretary ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS, testifying before a House Appropriations subcommittee, wouldn't give a specific timeline for when the administration will lift Title 42, a Trump-era pandemic measure that allows the U.S. to expel migrants at the border without due process.

— POLICE REFORM: Sen. TIM SCOTT (R-S.C.) told PBS NewsHour's Lisa Desjardins that "it's June or bust" for a bill. "We've got three weeks in June to get this done."

WUHAN WONDERING — "Democrats back growing calls for Congress to probe lab leak theory," by Andrew Desiderio and Erin Banco: "It's not yet clear what form the congressional inquiry would take, particularly whether the Covid origin question would be part of a broader review of the global crisis and the U.S. response. But the ongoing discussions on Capitol Hill represent a remarkable bipartisan agreement that Congress should investigate …

"Senior Biden administration officials have repeatedly said that any investigation into the origins of the virus should be spearheaded by an independent, international group such as the World Health Organization."

— Biden just issued a statement this afternoon on the virus' origins, saying the U.S. Intelligence Community has "coalesced around two likely scenarios" but not concluded anything. "I have now asked the Intelligence Community to redouble their efforts to collect and analyze information that could bring us closer to a definitive conclusion, and to report back to me in 90 days. As part of that report, I have asked for areas of further inquiry that may be required, including specific questions for China." The full statement

WHAT'S IN A NAME — "Biden's selling an ambitious agenda. Americans still aren't sure what it is," by Natasha Korecki: "A new Morning Consult/POLITICO poll released Wednesday shows that 61 percent of those surveyed were not familiar with the 'American Jobs Plan' and 62 percent were not familiar with the 'American Families Plan' … That could pose hurdles down the road for the president, who is banking on those ambitious, sweeping plans to not only reinvigorate the economy but register with voters when they head back to the ballot box. …

"In poll after poll, those individual components of the bills garner strong support from the public, which Biden advisers say is more important than familiarity with the names of the plans themselves. … But the survey suggests that the White House has work to do in explaining to the public that Biden's bills actually contain those popular provisions." Toplines … Crosstabs

WATCH: The GOP's latest target: Biden's IRS plan: RYAN is back with a new episode of "The Breakdown" — this week he's talking taxes. The Biden administration announced a new policy proposal to expand the IRS, and it's no surprise that Republicans don't like it. Conservative groups have already launched a series of TV and social media ads criticizing Biden's plan. The $80 billion proposal outlines a goal to hire nearly 87,000 new IRS workers over the next 10 years and go after people who aren't paying their taxes. Ryan breaks down why conservatives are fighting this, and what that could mean for Biden's fellow Democrats.

SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TODAY: Power is shifting in Washington and in communities across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. The Recast is a twice-weekly newsletter that explores the changing power dynamics in Washington and breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics and policy in America. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear critical new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel.

EMHOFF TAKES OFF — "Second gentleman Doug Emhoff is hitting the campaign trail," by Eugene: "The second gentleman will be heading to New Mexico [on Thursday] to campaign with Democratic congressional candidate MELANIE STANSBURY ahead of the special election on Tuesday."

IN THE SILVER STATE — "Cortez Masto helped Dems flip the Senate. Now she needs to defend her turf," by James Arkin: "Nevada, with its hard-hit, hospitality-centered economy, exemplifies the most critical challenges Democrats face in their fight to keep the Senate majority. They need an economic revival that leaves behind the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic and brings down one of the highest state unemployment rates in the U.S. The state will also test the party's appeal to Latino voters …

"[Sen. CATHERINE] CORTEZ MASTO is warning Democrats to take her race seriously. … Republicans are recruiting ADAM LAXALT, the former state attorney general who lost a run for governor in 2018. If he runs, Laxalt could receive broad support from the GOP … Cortez Masto has sought some distance from the state party and its new [left-wing] leadership."

— "Former Sen. Heller preps comeback run for Nevada governor," by Alex Isenstadt

THE MYSTERY AILMENTS — "Diplomats send letter to State Dept. leaders saying 'Havana Syndrome' sufferers not getting proper care," NBC: "[T]he staffers say that in recent months, the government has continued to 'reject scientific evidence regarding the injuries and treatment needs' and to 'invalidate our injuries and experiences,' alleging that military and intelligence officials injured by the same unexplained phenomenon are being treated more seriously." The letter

COMING ATTRACTIONS — "White House finalizing plans for Biden to meet with Queen Elizabeth II," CNN: "This face-to-face greeting, during which Biden would be joined by first lady Jill Biden, is expected to take place before the President leaves the United Kingdom following the Group of 7 summit."

JAN. 6 COMMISSION LATEST — "Mother of deceased Capitol Police officer presses GOP senators to back Jan. 6 commission," by Melanie Zanona: "GLADYS SICKNICK is seeking sit-downs with every single Senate GOP office on Thursday to emphasize 'the importance' of establishing an independent body to investigate the deadly insurrection … 'Not having a January 6 Commission to look into exactly what occurred is a slap in the faces of all the officers who did their jobs that day,' Gladys Sicknick said in a statement provided to POLITICO."

THE PULLOUT — "U.S. Aircraft Carrier Leaving Asia to Help With Afghanistan Troop Withdrawal," WSJ

WILD STORY — "Son, ghostwriter of late senator say Trump intervened to stop probe of Patriots' Spygate scandal," ESPN: "In the spring of 2008, the NFL was in crisis. A hard-charging United States senator from Pennsylvania named ARLEN SPECTER had launched an investigation into the Spygate scandal. … But there was one man, a mutual friend of Specter and Patriots owner ROBERT KRAFT, who believed that he could make the investigation go away.

"He was a famous businessman and reality television star who routinely threw money at politicians to try to curry favor, whether it worked or not. He had been a generous political patron of Specter's for two decades. One day in early 2008, Specter had dinner with the man in Palm Beach at his palatial club, not far from Kraft's Florida home. A phone call followed. The friend offered Specter what the senator felt was tantamount to a bribe: 'If you laid off the Patriots, there'd be a lot of money in Palm Beach.'"

AFTERNOON READ — "Can Mississippi's Last Abortion Clinic Survive?" by Sarah Fowler for POLITICO Magazine in Jackson: "The Supreme Court's decision on a law banning abortions after 15 weeks could have major consequences for the mostly poor Black women who come to the 'Pink House.'"

SUBSCRIBE TO WEST WING PLAYBOOK: Add West Wing Playbook to keep up with the power players, latest policy developments and intriguing whispers percolating inside the West Wing and across the highest levels of the Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today.

REMEMBERING JOHN WARNER — "Former Sen. John W. Warner, who led Virginia's congressional delegation, dies at 94," Richmond Times-Dispatch: "Mr. Warner, whose patrician bearing, military mien and stentorian pronouncements made him the senator from central casting, enforced comity in Virginia's congressional delegation by stressing the state's interests. … Mr. Warner also prided himself on an independent streak that led to high-profile splits with his party."

— WaPo obit: "Mr. Warner held considerable authority to military matters. His consensus-building on a number of critical issues led him to be known as one of the Senate's more influential members. He also brought a touch of glamour to the political world through his six-year marriage to film star ELIZABETH TAYLOR."

— Biden statement, in part: "I had the privilege of serving alongside John in the Senate for three decades. The John Warner I knew was guided by two things: his conscience and our Constitution. And, when acting in accordance with both, he neither wavered in his convictions nor was concerned with the consequences."

— Hill staffer Bronwyn Lance writes in: "Sen. Warner was known for being the consummate Senate gentleman, but he could also be the crusty former Marine. His exact words when he asked me to join his staff were, 'Pack your damned bags and come aboard.' What a lot of people don't realize is that Sen. Warner hired women into senior staff roles 40 years ago when that was still pretty radical. His longtime chief of staff was a woman. His longtime LD was a woman. I was his communications director. He genuinely valued women's opinions, advice and insight."

— More: Tim Kaine's statement … Mark Warner's statement … Chuck Schumer ordering Senate flags to half-staff … How John Warner helped launch self-driving cars

IT'S OFFICIAL — "Amazon to buy MGM Studios for $8.45 billion," CNBC

MEDIAWATCH — "Veteran BBC anchor Katty Kay joins Ozy Media," Axios: "Longtime BBC News anchor and correspondent Katty Kay is leaving her post to become senior editor and executive producer of OZY Media."

HOT JOB: Staff editor, weddings, NYT: "Listen: If you think that the D.C. bureau or the politics desk deals with people lying to them or hiding facts, wait till you start asking someone about their dating history."

STAFFING UP — The White House announced several new nominations across the administration: Matt Olsen for assistant A.G. for DOJ's National Security Division, Brian Nelson for undersecretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, Elizabeth Rosenberg for assistant secretary of the Treasury for terrorism financing, Lisa Brown for general counsel of the Department of Education, Arun Venkataraman for director general of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service and assistant Commerce secretary for global markets and Gwynne Wilcox for National Labor Relations Board member.

TRUMP ALUMNI — David Turkovic is joining the Aerospace Industries Association as director for industrial policy. He most recently was special assistant to the assistant secretary of Defense for legislative affairs. … Laura Trueman is now a senior adviser to the Galen Institute. She most recently was director of the office of intergovernmental and external affairs at HHS.

TRANSITION — Casey Baker is joining MVAR as media director. She previously spent two cycles with Mothership Strategies as a digital advertising manager.