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06/22/2017 07:46 AM EDT


By Heather Caygle (hcaygle@politico.com or @heatherscope)

Y'ALL READY FOR THIS? This morning Republicans will finally see the long-awaited Obamacare repeal bill Senate GOP leaders have been working for weeks behind closed doors to craft. The 52-member caucus will gather at 9:30 a.m. for a comprehensive presentation on the closely guarded proposal and the bill is expected to be released at 11 a.m. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is pushing hard for a vote next week, before members leave for the July 4th recess.

"The proposal, which is being called a discussion draft, is expected to change before next week's vote as senators engage in last-minute negotiations on the legislation," Burgess, Jen Haberkorn and Adam Cancryn report this morning. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=498f3061ede2aa2b79ce1631ba9875b0d7f75ecfc69b32ac7486767a7cc8ddaf1ea2172f280c1e4733970bf110834677d541b6c1a86ce5b1 And here's what we know is in the Senate's secret Obamacare repeal, via Jen Haberkorn: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=498f3061ede2aa2b8707871d1cd2f48108e4b3505bcd66ca72e62c8e54d284579b4fb5cb260d766eafe813be381bf2ca07d48314a3b4539c

Where are the votes at? McConnell knows he can only lose two members and still pass the bill. President Donald Trump has already started whipping votes from the White House - he called up Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), an expected "no" vote, on Tuesday to take his temperature. "We might have to play golf again," Paul told Burgess as he recounted their conversation. Paul isn't the only one yet to be swayed. The president could find he has less ability to twist Senate arms on the repeal than he did in the House. "If it doesn't work for Alaska, it doesn't make any difference who's calling me," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Josh Dawsey, Burgess, Tara Palmeri and Eliana Johnson:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=498f3061ede2aa2be9afb22b8337f7aed59a28ea2dcf8ca42a6fe958e7cd0777c5614da8ea9673fd9d261ff3c69c74a099c41728d5f0f6cc

Looking ahead: "Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has promised that senators will get unlimited opportunity for amendments in any health care floor fight next week. Senate Democrats aren't so sure." Seung Min with more on how the GOP could go nuclear: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=498f3061ede2aa2b78480d78be6aae1e7702a076e489ac0d2914d57918525ba0f126db310ebf458e4b5f0ff5b4a3d791a7cbaf5573f3c00a

TRUMP ASKED INTEL CHIEFS TO DENY RUSSIA REPORTS - National Intelligence Director Dan Coats and NSA Director Mike Rogers "told Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team and Senate investigators, in separate meetings last week, that President Donald Trump suggested they say publicly there was no collusion between his campaign and the Russians, according to multiple sources," CNN reports this morning. The intel chiefs "described their interactions with the president about the Russia investigation as odd and uncomfortable, but said they did not believe the president gave them orders to interfere." Dana Bash, Evan Perez and Manu Raju: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=498f3061ede2aa2b909cd84b88a352aa874b716bcd51ea7f1ee034b099f2b3ad0d09eb7fc49fa79046a43fa6ef400779861d217f838d8567

NORTH DAKOTA'S LAST DEMOCRAT - Will Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, North Dakota's Democratic unicorn, run again next year? "Every Democrat from the oil patch in Williston to bustling Fargo is banking on Heitkamp running, winning and reviving the party in this state," Burgess reports. But Heitkamp herself says she's still undecided. "There's days I have doubts ... I mean this is a hard life. Actually, the happiest I am is on days like today," she says on a sparkling June day as she crisscrosses the state's southeastern corner. "You know, I haven't made up my mind." Burgess with much more from Wahpeton (yes, I had to google it) N.D.: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=498f3061ede2aa2be6b46b18532b53ff4c58d59b43f297db9596e3c702077c9032aad3c35e037b6fe0454f65f4e16fcba4f78824aae74320

GEORGIA LOSS PROMPTS PELOSI PUSHBACK - House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) put a brave face on Wednesday, trying to paint the disappointing loss in the Georgia special election in a positive light for her Democratic caucus. But it's clear frustration is growing with the longtime Democratic leader following the extensive losses Democrats have suffered over the past half-decade. "I think you'd have to be an idiot to think we could win the House with Pelosi at the top," said Rep. Filemon Vela (D-Texas), who supported Pelosi in her last leadership race.

Stand my ground: "There comes a time when every leader has to say, 'For the good of the order and for the betterment of the party, it's time for me to step aside.' And I wish that that would happen right now," said Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.). But Pelosi is showing no signs of stepping down. Her aides were fiercely defending against the criticism Wednesday by citing her fundraising prowess and allies of the California Democrat were working last night to get backers for a public showing of support for Pelosi. More from Bres, yours truly and Kyle: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=498f3061ede2aa2bf2857739c79e03d5365511a8db05baba39f8005e92e28cae8dbc73114a2eafce3ee172de06f2d33ae06c9c21ad1c44f7

'Elephant in the room': In a Wednesday morning meeting with DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Lujan, Rep. Tony Cardenas, of member of House Democratic leadership, "brought up Ms. Pelosi's role in the Georgia race, calling it 'the elephant in the room.' Ms. Pelosi was not present." The New York Times' Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin with more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=498f3061ede2aa2b62597987d6b9bc13e3afe620115f8dde5a847f984df50a2015cd6e72860b16910df2d7db93822804fdcfdd7e1bbcca90

'Democratic finger-pointing intensifies after Georgia loss," via Gabe Debenedetti from Atlanta: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=498f3061ede2aa2bbc757187c566300fd7a0eeace4d3bc5cc18bc84cf2457b1a38987370c57e424636fe58c7a43e8ebe98e74d503936cc27

PHEW, WE MADE IT TO THURSDAY, JUNE 22. Thanks for reading POLITICO's Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill.

WEDNESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: You guys really loved Seung Min's pic inside the room during the Capitol Hill meeting with Ivanka Trump Tuesday. ICYMI, Rep. Dave Schweikert's (R-Ariz.) little daughter Olivia crawled up in Sen. Mike Lee's (R-Utah) arms to take a nap.

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL - House Republicans emerged from a closed-door meeting Wednesday with no consensus on how to move forward on a plan to pass a budget or spending bills, still divided other policy ideas and even basic questions of process. "The stalemate - which centers on how much to spend on defense as well as whether to use their Republican majority to cut mandatory programs like food stamps - has the potential to jam the GOP agenda," Rachael, Sarah Ferris and Connor O'Brien report.

"Eager to push ahead, House budget writers tentatively agreed in a separate meeting Wednesday afternoon to advance a budget resolution that takes a middle-of-the-road approach... Members are planning for a Budget Committee vote on June 28, though they're waiting approval from GOP leadership." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=498f3061ede2aa2bdc8568cdc194e1434dd4b4c6ad6d28f4d5d75217c15eb9478aba05e1033f99915360e91090e09d8df2739557738e3c1d

GRASSLEY EMBRACES OVERSIGHT ROLE IN TRUMP PROBE - "At the helm of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Grassley is swinging his powerful gavel into the Russia probes by his decision to investigate the circumstances behind the firing of former FBI director James Comey - a pursuit that promises to be uncomfortable, at best, for the Trump administration," Seung Min and Josh Gerstein report.

"In an interview with POLITICO Wednesday in his Capitol office, Grassley was the most definitive yet that his committee's probe will examine issues of obstruction of justice. 'I don't want to say for sure. But I don't know how you can avoid it,' Grassley said regarding questions of obstruction of justice in his investigation. 'Because the FBI was investigating it before there was a special counsel.'" Don't miss it: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=498f3061ede2aa2b74719a50471eadd1978fc40829838b9a29deca817c0cdc3abc5617158452142df90555d25287e3a4a8f52ed259f8c947

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LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN - "The Senate has sent the House a proposal to fix the hitch that has delayed a popular package of bipartisan sanctions on Iran and Russia - including limits on President Donald Trump's power to ease penalties against Vladimir Putin's government," Elana reports. House Republicans earlier this week said the bill was delayed because of a "blue slip" issue, prompting Democrats to accuse them of purposefully slowing down the proposal at the behest of the White House. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=498f3061ede2aa2b03c4ec3ffc4188547c112e035f11abd2e062d0a57c464de5f0c25d98830de2a8d984e25574b0b7689e77385eb16646d9

BAD NEWS BABES BRING IT HOME - The Capitol Hill press corps team, known as the Bad News Babes, beat lawmakers 2-1 in the ninth annual congressional women's softball game Wednesday night. The game, which raised more than $300,000 to help young women with breast cancer, was packed with members, staffers, lobbyists, reporters and other spectators who came to support the yearly event after last week's shooting during Republicans' congressional baseball practice.

One particularly touching moment: Crystal Griner, the Capitol Hill Police officer hospitalized since she was shot in the ankle protecting lawmakers last week, threw out the first pitch from the wheelchair she's using as she recovers. More from your Huddle host and Rachael: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=498f3061ede2aa2b4cd7337e27c81c8c9f5dcdfb4563f0c9851c5201eefa17a5b19c32ad817709559291b339660f983f7b6b75bdcafb8721

Scalise's condition improves: House Majority Whip Steve Scalise's condition has been upgraded from "serious" to "fair," his doctors said Wednesday. "Congressman Steve Scalise continues to make good progress," his doctors said in the statement. "He is now listed in fair condition and is beginning an extended period of healing and rehabilitation." Rachael: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=498f3061ede2aa2b3e3db26745eb326ed7fe97589093ee227733924852d525d4d171cbb805084d5afe66292f99525552bfe84f0ab1325a21

DEM CANDIDATES ON THE RISE - "As of Tuesday, 489 new Democratic candidates had registered House bids with the Federal Election Commission. That number vastly outpaces new candidate registrations in every other House cycle since 2009," Ben Kamisar reports for the Hill. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=498f3061ede2aa2bba16f09c58da6b10f9cf45a72e815fbaf389bd520f37f1a440fdf8dfe876a8017125de16d3c6737dbcfb784ee6f515b4

'I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT TIM CANOVA' - Tim Canova, an unknown newcomer who decided to primary long-time Miami-area Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz last year, got a big boost to his candidacy after being endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). But Canova, who has already announced he'll run against Wasserman Schultz again in 2018, probably shouldn't expect Sanders' support. "I have no idea about Tim Canova, I honestly don't," Sanders said when asked if he plans to support Canova's second bid. "I know nothing about Tim Canova." Alex Daugherty with McClatchy: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=498f3061ede2aa2b92fe45a8ec6b591892e09023e99c4c44fada7d15f18fc3406882eb49f7c405364dd74f3db6edfa8f28541d562f9c23a8

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR A BONO SIGHTING - Bono was making the rounds on Capitol Hill Wednesday, which you might already know considering that's basically all that Hill staffers and reporters were tweeting about. The U2 frontman met with Republicans and Democrats to talk about the importance of foreign aid and he even signed get well cards for Scalise and others injured in last week's shooting. Billboard's Tatiana Cirisano with more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=498f3061ede2aa2bf893cc6d8c99e7cb97c53d4c29cb22c2fe6a294504df0a26e9c00f09a06d4d19722db9e39f551520ce4a17364c5e843a

TODAY IN CONGRESS - The House meets at 10 a.m. with first votes around 1:15 p.m. and last votes between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. The Senate meets at 11 a.m. with votes possible but not currently scheduled.

AROUND THE HILL - Reps. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.) and Mike Johnson (R-La.) hold a press conference on establishing a "National Day of Civility" at 9 a.m. in HVC Studio B. House Homeland Security Chairman Mike McCaul (R-Texas.), Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.) and Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) host a day-long national security forum from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the CVC auditorium.

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Reps. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.), John Lewis (D-Ga.), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), and Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M) introduce the "Voting Rights Advancement Act" at 10:30 a.m. on the East Front Lawn.

Pelosi holds her weekly press conference at 10:45 a.m. in HVC Studio A. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) follows, with his weekly presser at 11:30 a.m. in HVC Studio A. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Rep. Robert Wittman (R-Va.) hold an 11 a.m. press conference in the Senate Radtio/TV gallery announce a bill to increase the Naval fleet.

Pelosi, Hoyer and Reps. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) and Ami Bera (D-Calif.) hold a press conference with doctors on the potential impact of the GOP's Obamacare repeal efforts at 1:15 p.m. in the grassy area on the House side. Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) hold a press conference on the GOP's Obamacare repeal efforts at 2:15 p.m. in S-115.

Merkley and Sens, Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) hold a press conference on the Obamacare repeal's potential impact on people with chronic diseases at 3 p.m. in S-115. Reps. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) hold a 3 p.m. press conference in the House triangle on technical education.

WEDNESDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER - Claire Smith correctly guessed that Mae Nolan was the first woman elected to Congress after her husband's death. She succeeded her husband, John Nolan, in 1922. Nolan was also the first woman elected to Congress from California.

TODAY'S TRIVIA - Claire with today's question: Where did this president, who suffered but recovered from a heart attack, a stroke, and Crohn's disease while in office, move after leaving office and where is his presidential library? The first person to correctly answer gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send answers my way: hcaygle@politico.com

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