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03/15/2018 08:09 AM EDT


By Nolan D. McCaskill (nmccaskill@politico.com or @NolanDMcCaskill)

PA-18 'A WAKE-UP CALL' FOR GOP -- Results from Tuesday's special congressional election in Pennsylvania, where Democrat Conor Lamb narrowly leads Republican Rick Saccone in a district President Donald Trump won by 20 points in 2016, are deeply unsettling GOP leaders. The race is "a wake-up call," NRCC Chairman Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) told the GOP caucus Wednesday. "During a closed-door conference meeting at the Capitol Hill Club, House Republican leaders said that Tuesday's special election ... could portend a monster Democratic year," Rachael and Alex Isenstadt report. "They told rank-and-file members in no uncertain terms that they needed to get their campaigns in order or that they could
be casualties, and they need to raise money now to protect themselves come November."

"But most rank-and-file going in and out of the meeting downplayed the election, suggesting ... Saccone was weak and Lamb was a 'unicorn' who couldn't be replicated in tight races this fall," they continue. "The conflicting takeaways come as Lamb claimed victory and Republicans have hinted they will seek a recount." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4d7cace1e84d7db935e3ac0c9e7d68cf7c5de781fc1a19598b84222a8b7b2730fb62aa799910060bbfe574c4eb543245

Related: "Trump Says a Democrat Won in Pennsylvania Because He's 'Like Trump,'" from The Atlantic's Elaina Plott: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d1d4da5db7e009d10cafa0589113eebd0a1da00106ffc41938fb9fd9a85d74e71d2027f69ff150d06c988d62fd3396c1 "Conor Lamb Wins Pennsylvania House Seat, Giving Democrats a Map for Trump Country," by The New York Times' Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d1d4da5db7e009d15adf85449977ed256c168fd2d0c5627028959426ea8f893ff2a36d712aa2942440f7a58a84c74243 and "Republicans prepare for recount in Pennsylvania special election," via Elena Schneider: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4d7cace1e84d7db997258fcab906bff912075be777766ffee8d2fd05653d49a635d0af6e76ffa59daaaef84a6bdffa53

DEMS' PA-18 TAKEAWAY: DISAVOW PELOSI -- Despite millions of dollars in GOP ads tying him to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Lamb repeatedly disavowed the Democratic leader during his campaign -- laying out a potential blueprint for other Democrats to follow. Lamb's success "raises the prospect of a slate of Democratic hopefuls running against the party's House leader as they try to neutralize one of the GOP's go-to attacks -- a pillar of Republicans' plan to keep the House majority in November," Elena Schneider and Heather report. "A half-dozen Democratic House members and candidates told POLITICO in interviews that they had been closely monitoring how Lamb handled the Pelosi
attack."

"Running against Nancy Pelosi is going to help you a lot more than running with her," Rep. Filemon Vela (D-Texas) said. "So far, House Democrats' campaign arm hasn't punished candidates for snubbing Pelosi," they write, noting that the DCCC ran ads on Lamb's behalf and quietly sent more than $400,000 to the state Democratic Party. "With Lamb expected to prevail narrowly, Democrats are predicting that others will parrot Lamb's tactics and run against the party's leader in the House." A Pelosi spokesman said the midterms will be about Trump and the GOP, not the Democratic leader. Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4d7cace1e84d7db9d56592fa65526fcfa6eef011c38457001efb7fddd2f149480af149bdd17a0a8af43de966eee5efed

HOUSE EXPECTED TO TAKE UP OMNIBUS NEXT WEEK -- With votes no longer expected in the House on Friday, the chamber likely won't take up a massive omnibus spending package until next week. "GOP sources don't expect the spending package to even be unveiled until the weekend or early next week," Bres and Sarah Ferris report. "With government funding running out at the end of next week, leadership sources on both sides of the aisle warn the spending fight may run beyond that deadline, especially if there is a holdup in the Senate." Neither a government shutdown nor another continuing resolution is expected, though. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4d7cace1e84d7db93f3eb7a5e829fc72f5d7f23733af0c0c9d7abaf1f20e4a84fb671057811cdff2e97ed17fb656df17

Outstanding issues include $900 million in funding for the Gateway project in New York. Trump has threatened to veto the spending package if it includes money for Gateway, and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) told New York and New Jersey Republicans on Wednesday that he won't allow Gateway funds to be included if the president will veto it. "Ryan told the rank-and-file members to work out a deal with Trump themselves," Bres and Rachael report. Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), who said he will vote against the omnibus if Gateway funding is excluded, will spend some time trying to persuade the president today at a St. Patrick's Day celebration. More:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4d7cace1e84d7db924d12d928672a78785b1e84905e34c90e854b0b04c7f20db1de399d7c43ae8cb776a4e4aeff657af

GOOD MORNING! Thanks for reading Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, March 15.

MARCH MADNESS #PLAYBOOKPOOL -- BEAT THE BUZZER! You have until 11:30 a.m. ET today to fill out your bracket for the 2nd Annual Playbook Pool and compete against your friends, top Playbookers, political insiders and VIPs to win prizes, including Apple Watches, Airpods, GoPros, Google Home -- not to mention some pretty legit bragging rights. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, CNN's Brianna Keilar and Phil Mattingly, ABC's Jonathan Karl and HLN's SE Cupp have sent in their picks. In the Senate, Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), David Perdue (R-Ga.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) are in it to win it. And in the House, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Democratic Caucus
Chairman Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) lead a host of members who've submitted their brackets. Governors are going all in as well, including Larry Hogan (R-Md.), Roy Cooper (D-N.C.), Steve Bullock (D-Mont.), Chris Sununu (R-N.H.), Phil Murphy (D-N.J.), Kate Brown (D-Ore.), Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Bruce Rauner (R-Ill.) and BOTH Walkers, Scott (R-Wis.) and Bill (R-Alaska). You can check out the VIP Board and get your bracket in now by clicking HERE!

-- Join Playbook tonight for an informal watch party at WILLIE'S (the official Playbook Pool partner) in Navy Yard (D.C.) during the evening games for #PlaybookPool discounts and specials. Willie's website http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4d7cace1e84d7db9c782df1d08e317c83ac5d70970ca6ed9cc72dcc94578d67675babcba348afa6b256f867e6647cf96

WEDNESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Elena Schneider's dispatch from Canonsburg on Conor Lamb's tiny lead over Rick Saccone in Pennsylvania's special congressional election was the winner.

GOP DEFLATES TRIAL BALLOON ON DREAMERS DEAL -- Trump floated attaching temporary protections for Dreamers as well as some border wall money to the must-pass omnibus spending package. But like immigration deals before it, it went nowhere. "[T]he effort lacks support among congressional Republicans," Burgess and Rachael report. "And the Trump administration is already backing away from [it]." Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) said there was no talk of it during a party meeting on Wednesday, and conservative House Republicans said the move could jeopardize Ryan's standing with the party's right flank. Conservatives want the speaker to allow a vote on House Judiciary Committee Bob Goodlatte's (R-Va.)
immigration bill. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4d7cace1e84d7db9e88e219aee40cc63dc10cb8dfbbe12bea99ee9f3a9cb7f3a86e5c0a5ffba2a02f3a72a52cceee713

GOING DEEP ON GOODLATTE -- Ryan and his leadership team approached Goodlatte last month, asking him to make changes to his bill to win more votes. "But weeks later, Goodlatte's legislation is still languishing," Rachael and Bres write. "No substantive changes have been made to the measure, according to multiple senior House GOP sources." For years, House Republican leaders have tried to cajole Goodlatte into taking up consequential legislation. But colleagues say he moves slowly, if at all. And according to more than a dozen lawmakers, aides and White House officials, Goodlatte's committee is where "bills go to die." Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4d7cace1e84d7db99255bf38b24603a2ad5f9e706289df42ff8808561604c11be09659a7f22343beaf1320b4deec48de

SENATE PASSES BIPARTISAN BANK BILL -- The Senate passed a bank deregulation bill that amounts to the largest rollback of financial rules since the 2008 market meltdown. "[T]he Senate agreed in a 67-31 bipartisan vote to overhaul a wide range of regulations imposed on small and large lenders in the years since," Zachary Warmbrodt reports. "Yet as the dust settled after a fiery two-week debate, the bill's backers faced the possibility that getting the legislation to President Donald Trump's desk would be delayed -- or even derailed -- as House Republicans vowed to put their stamp on it." Sixteen moderate Democrats supported the bill, despite Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D-Mass.) crusade against
the legislation. Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4d7cace1e84d7db94cf89d6504657984fa6142a581bc06a0df31a61d7b259642ee3f82e57ca4229ea17a0ded6a3a1a3d

Related reads: "Highlights of the Senate banking bill," from Zachary Warmbrodt and Victoria Guida: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d1d4da5db7e009d1bbb1dfa5fcd2ee8436eb843c558a24ddeb9f7df81f80b9a0f06747709217f71f1f2ef0a82624867f and "Congress rides to the rescue of thriving bankers," by Victoria Guida: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4d7cace1e84d7db957daf3b757a97bdfc3eb88b07536e50df65bf1a9b2915059dc72d26085e74202ba11c8e2ffbba139

The House also passed a school safety bill on Wednesday: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4d7cace1e84d7db9909d53023347d86cd22ccbecdf2222ac2e612163bdf98d9cd684d7f4f33964637a629e7cd4712cf2

RAND TAKES A STAND AGAINST POMPEO NOMINATION -- Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said CIA Director Mike Pompeo's support for the Iraq War and defense of torture are disqualifying and signaled that he may filibuster Pompeo's nomination for secretary of state and Gina Haspel's nomination for CIA director. "Paul's opposition to Pompeo will be more immediately felt because he serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where the GOP enjoys just a one-seat advantage," Burgess notes. "With Paul opposed, Pompeo could receive an unfavorable committee verdict if Democrats join him in opposition, which would be a serious black mark on Pompeo's nomination." Still, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
(R-Ky.) could bring Pompeo's nomination to the Senate floor even if Paul and Democrats oppose him in committee. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4d7cace1e84d7db92aa63af1dcff041afb55e0ba62970cb69e76dbb5522ce2043d9cb7af1ec50c45d7839657414209e9

CONGRESS' FOOD FIGHT -- A battle over how rigid to make work requirements in the food stamp program is threatening to derail the House's farm bill. "[House Agriculture] Committee Democrats publicly revolted last week after learning that Chairman Mike Conaway (R-Texas) was eyeing stricter work requirements for some 8 million recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, widely known as food stamps," Helena Bottemiller Evich, Catherine Boudreau and Liz Crampton report. "Now, some influential conservatives are saying the bill may not go far enough to restrict access, especially since Republicans control both branches of Congress and the White House." Much more:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4d7cace1e84d7db9376317928c964e62b1b86e7ad2a85b0f7602d02f3574b10a2628064d41dc16606f9bf2382480ada2

MORE TAX CUTS? -- Trump and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) say another round of tax cuts is coming. Brady "declined to discuss many details of what Republicans have in a mind, but said a proposal would be unveiled sometime this year," Brian Faler reports. "Later in the day, Trump said there would be a 'phase two' for tax cuts, though he didn't provide any details either." Brady, however, indicated that the next phase would call for extending tax cuts for individuals that are set to expire at the end of 2025 -- but it would be separate from any effort to resolve glitches in the GOP tax law.

"The idea may be to give Republicans more fodder for their campaigns, ahead of what's certain to be a difficult midterm election contest, rather than actually trying to enact more tax changes this year," Faler writes. "Any sincere effort to move another round of tax cuts through Congress this year would face long odds." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4d7cace1e84d7db979fda715dcf2b33231299727d71bf67bc16323a2015ce94fb0b424150448a257e851241c2157b7ff

CUMMINGS' RETURN UNKNOWN -- Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) has been absent from Capitol Hill since he received treatment for a knee infection 10 weeks ago. The Maryland Democrat is now recovering at his home in Baltimore, but aides don't know when he will return. Cummings filed paperwork last month to seek reelection. His office said he is "taking meetings by phone and in constant contact with Members and staff." He is continuing physical therapy and expected to fully recover. As for when he will return, his office said he'll "adhere strictly to his doctors' direction" on that. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4d7cace1e84d7db9ea3bcb8a17fee66d67c4f878a3bfcba5d8302bfcfd5d289003033afc4621cb1967235b2a7000d843

SCALISE STUMPING -- House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) is transferring $1 million to the NRCC and hitting the campaign trail. "It's a change of pace for Scalise, who's spent much of the past eight months either in the hospital recovering from being shot in the hip or zooming around the Capitol in his electric scooter," Rachael reports. "Sources close to Scalise told POLITICO that numerous House Republicans have requested the whip's presence at campaign events in the coming weeks and months. He'll soon be traveling to Texas, Florida, New York, California, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Illinois." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4d7cace1e84d7db9cfe7cdd16f9a61028a4e3c10514c6b09ab712ddbe3a79e8b57dbf6d461a684ee54b055842e683f69

Related: "Brotherly love: Mike Pence to raise money for Greg Pence," from Alex Isenstadt: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4d7cace1e84d7db994673a4f161e1a27e73eddaf4033c1b36946b310ef85155b376fc6cd8b4d80c04f87c4563f805795

MCDANIEL EYES SENATE VACANCY -- Mississippi state Sen. Chris McDaniel is abandoning his primary challenge against Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) to run for Sen. Thad Cochran's (R-Miss.) seat. "McDaniel's decision means Republicans won't have to spend resources against a potentially pesky primary challenger, but could be a headache for Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, whose allies are determined to keep McDaniel out of the Senate," Kevin Robillard reports. His move also puts pressure on Gov. Phil Bryant, who will appoint someone to fill Cochran's seat until November. "All the candidates ... will run on a nonpartisan ballot together Nov. 6," Robillard writes. "If no candidate earns a majority of
the vote, the top two finishers will face off in a runoff later that month." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4d7cace1e84d7db97e84dcd2240b4571eddb941dc8c8d56d44cda7a416d390f0fcccda2924bc75ef7834dd9e1194b273

TODAY IN CONGRESS -- The House gavels in at 10 a.m., with first and last votes expected between 3:45 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=4d7cace1e84d7db9298a71b7ec4461e36ea1afc4ce566284cd2e6d28655dd5ddecd5183a5cc7caceff094ee54fcaa01e The Senate meets at 10 a.m. to resume consideration of the motion to proceed to an anti-sex trafficking bill. There will be no roll call votes today.

AROUND THE HILL -- Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) will hold a news conference to discuss the Black Women's Roundtable Summit at 9 a.m. in the House Triangle.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will hold her weekly news conference at 10:45 a.m. in HVC-Studio A.

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and others will hold an event to discuss human rights and democracy in Iran and to celebrate the Persian New Year at 11:30 a.m. in 325 Russell.

President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will host the annual Friends of Ireland luncheon at 12 p.m. in H-207.

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and Pete Sessions (R-Texas) will hold a news conference with members of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation on the launch of the Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin at 12 p.m. in H-215.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Georgia President Giorgi Margvelashvili and others will hold a discussion on the importance of Georgia's path forward and the U.S.-Georgia partnership for transatlantic security at 2 p.m. in 2167 Rayburn.

Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) will hold a news conference on ocean and wetland conservation at 4 p.m. in the House Triangle.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a meeting with South Korea Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha at 4 p.m. in 2200 Rayburn.

WEDNESDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER -- Gus Maples was first to correctly guess that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) are the two senators who were born in Sheffield, Alabama, in 1942.

TODAY'S TRIVIA -- From Gus: What is the significance of the Twilight Lodge to the Senate, and what was unique about time there? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way: nmccaskill@politico.com.

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