EMAIL DETAILS

11/18/2015 08:36 AM EDT


By Rachael Bade (rbade@politico.com or @RachaelMBade)

SIREN: RYAN WARNS OF BUDGET SHOWDOWN ON RIDERS. Kristina Peterson for the WSJ: "New House Speaker Paul Ryan struck a confrontational stance with the Obama administration Tuesday, setting the stage for showdowns over domestic spending and national security matters as Congress works to wrap up business for the year. Mr. Ryan, speaking at The Wall Street Journal CEO Council annual meeting, said a spending bill needed to avoid a government shutdown in December must include Republican policy measures, injecting fresh drama into the year's final budget fight..."

"The Wisconsin Republican didn't explicitly suggest government operations could lapse when funding expires on Dec. 11, but he didn't rule out such a possibility. He said Republicans will force Mr. Obama to accept some conservative provisions, known as 'riders,' in the sweeping spending bill. 'There will have to be some riders in this for us to be able to pass it through Congress,' Mr. Ryan said, noting that Republicans are looking to curb some of the administration's regulations. 'There are a number of regulations being churned out of this administration that we think are killing jobs.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=67a515aa5942cb2ee3e8389fd4415f7911bd0da4c74b4d5aa0cce1bb60e7f90a

--Meanwhile... "Dems warn GOP on 'poison pills' in spending bill," by The Hill's Mike Lillis: "House Democrats are sending a clear warning across the aisle ahead of a contentious debate over government spending: Any 'poison pill' amendments are dead on arrival. 'We're going to stand firm on the riders and the president's going to stand firm with us,' Rep. Nita Lowey (N.Y.), senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said Tuesday." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=67a515aa5942cb2ed9f47cfd0dea1583312fb4670708dcb783c0cf5264461c4f

GOP CALLS FOR 'PAUSE' ON SYRIAN REFUGEES. AP's Erica Werner and Alicia Caldwell: "Republicans urged an immediate closure of America's borders to Syrian refugees Tuesday... 'Pause' was the word used by both new House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, urging at least a temporary halt in the resettlement of Syrians and disputing Obama administration claims that the small numbers making their way here so far are being thoroughly investigated.... The administration showed no sign of backing off its plans to bring an additional 10,000 Syrian refugees to the U.S. and mounted a hasty defense of its vetting process, which Attorney General Loretta
Lynch assured Congress is 'robust.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=67a515aa5942cb2ef77fc937db20025272b0779960ccc7aaed287f5a5696de94

--The refugee bill hits the House floor Thursday: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=67a515aa5942cb2e804356321c6d4472a5ee100cbd678d9b5a7a6c316b4e4b35

MCCONNELL, RYAN UNITE IN FIRST BIG TEST. At least, for now... Jake and Seung Min: "It's been years since any legislating on Capitol Hill could be described as efficient. But as Republicans watched the crisis in Paris unfold, coupled with President Barack Obama's plan to allow thousands of Syrian refugees into the U.S., GOP leaders produced a coordinated response - at least for now. In doing so, Speaker Paul Ryan, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have so far sidestepped the messy, charged fights that have come to split the Republican party and typify the modern-day Congress."

"[Tt]he tactics GOP leaders used to quickly unify their party behind a single idea - described by multiple lawmakers and aides involved in the discussions - could be instructive when envisioning how the next two years might work on Capitol Hill...Of course, this could all blow up. The migrant problem could get worse. Obama and congressional Democrats might still reject the GOP's plan, sidelining it for the time being. Or hardline Republicans might demand its consideration as part of the government funding bill - which could threaten a shut down." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=67a515aa5942cb2e339b7461015a09db8f2bbd15c3eabf64480f26c5b62a8803

"CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS CAUTIOUSLY DEFEND REFUGEE PROGRAM," by Carl Hulse for the N.Y. Times: "Senate Democratic leaders said they would withhold final judgment until a high-level classified briefing on Wednesday, open to all senators. Among those scheduled to conduct the briefing were the heads of the Department of Homeland Security, of the F.B.I. and of the National Counterterrorism Center along with top Pentagon, State Department and refugee program officials..." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=67a515aa5942cb2ed2a8b33c655a248e6c842ab04b6068991e3440ea36062833

Leader-in-waiting, however, open to 'pause.' "Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the No. 3 Democrat and a top party strategist, expressed his view a little differently, saying that 'a pause may be necessary' but that Democrats were waiting for the briefing and more information."

-Progressive group blasts back: "From the Iraq war to the Iran nuclear deal, Senator Schumer has consistently been on the wrong side of major national security issues, so it comes as no surprise that he is now considering joining Republicans' xenophobic attack on refugees," said CREDO Deputy Political Director Murshed Zaheed. "Senate Schumer must realize that punishing refugees for a terrorist attack committed by Europeans would be cruel and counterproductive ... Democrats in the Senate need to stand strong and reject Republicans' hateful effort to stop refugees from entering the United States."

GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING! It's Nov. 18, 2015. Thanks for reading Huddle, where we're wired on coffee. Story pitches here, or comments, or whatever: rbade@politico.com, or Tweet: @RachaelMBade.

TODAY IN CONGRESS: The House returns at 10 a.m. First votes expected: 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. Last votes expected: 5 to 6 p.m. The Senate returns at 10 a.m., with votes as early as 10:15 a.m.

AROUND THE HILL: At 11:30 a.m. at the House Triangle, Reps. DeLauro, Slaughter, Kaptur, Velazquez and Pocan will talk TPP. At 12:30 p.m., Sens. Schumer, Cardin, Brown and Stabenow will hold a presser urging Republicans to confirm a host of President's nominees "critical to national security in the wake of the recent terror attack," including those to fill USAID Administrator, under secretary for terrorism and financial crimes, and some State vacancies.

** A message from The Broad Tax Extenders Coalition: The Broad Tax Extenders Coalition, a group of over 2,000 organizations, urges the Administration to work with Congress on a permanent and multiyear tax extenders deal that will help working families, charities, and businesses. By passing tax extenders, Congress can support economic investment and create more jobs. Learn more at www.consensusisclear.org **

TWEET OF THE DAY: @AnthonyWeiner: "Jeez, what a dummy. RT: @Sethrogen: F*** I did that thing again where I think I'm just messaging someone but I tweeted it." (H/t my cube neighbor, Lindsay Monaghan)

BIPARTISAN SENATE DUO ON SYRIA: IT'S NOT JUST OBAMA BUT OUR FAULT, TOO. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) with a bipartisan oped in TIME today following Paris: "[M]any members of Congress quickly took the opportunity to blast the Obama administration's failure to appropriately counter ISIS in Iraq, Syria and beyond.... But these critiques miss an important point: Congress has abdicated its fundamental duty to debate, vote on and shape the extent of the current war on ISIS."

"Our post-Paris discussion about what more the U.S. should do must include Congress taking responsibility for our involvement, rather than trying to duck accountability.... Congress has been strangely silent about the war. We criticize the President, but won't vote to authorize, stop or refine what he is doing. Congressional silence sends a message. Our allies wonder whether we have the resolve to work with them to stop this threat. ISIS must take comfort in the seeming ambivalence of Congress. Most damning, our troops-ordered to risk their lives thousands of miles from home-wonder whether Congress even supports the dangerous missions they must carry out every day."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=67a515aa5942cb2ef392be1454181a34c6e36f8eaf1a8413fbce6b20adbc5dc7

VITTER IN THE SENATE: GADFLY, DEALMAKER WRAPPED IN ONE. Burgess has the profile of the day, on the one-and-only David Vitter, whose odds going into the Louisiana gubernatorial election aren't looking pretty: "In public, David Vitter is the face of Senate gridlock, a master of holding up the entire chamber if he doesn't get what he wants. But in the backrooms of Congress, Vitter has worked seamlessly with Democratic colleagues to advance their priorities - as long it allows him to bring home the bacon to Louisiana."

"Vitter cultivated both sides of his political persona in the years-long runup to his campaign for governor: the outsider who angers senators in both parties one minute by trying to take away their aides' health care subsidies, and the insider who delights Democrats the next by striking a deal. He's run ads this year emphasizing how unpopular he is with his colleagues, and led off last week's debate bragging about all the work he's done with liberal Democrats."

"Unfortunately for Vitter, his surprising list of bipartisan wins in Congress has gotten lost in an ugly campaign focused mostly on the nearly decade-old prostitution scandal that he can't seem to shake. Last year alone, Vitter helped clinch a water infrastructure bill that disproportionately benefited Louisiana and was instrumental in rolling back higher flood insurance premiums that were set to sock the low-lying state. But he's spending most of his time in the home stretch of the race answering questions about his personal life." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=67a515aa5942cb2ed759aba416d32c2fb869ee99b9e76196beb6c4dd500f12ec

MEET DAVID HOPPE, RYAN'S C.O.S. Elise Viebeck for The Washington Post "One day in 1989, David Hoppe explained to an audience how to pull the levers on Capitol Hill... 'First, people do not read,' Hoppe said of staff and lawmakers. 'They review things very quickly, scan things ... Second, they do not think. Nobody thinks in Washington. They react. They have a problem and they react to it.'... Official Washington is a 'totally politically atmosphere' consumed by a 'political game' at every level, he said, according to a transcript. People on Capitol Hill are a 'very strange sort,' not necessarily 'stupid people or incapable,' but 'harried people who ... think they are much busier than they
are.' 'You not only have to lead this horse to water. You have to try and show him that it is real water and drink a little bit with him and push his head into it,' Hoppe said."

"Nearly 30 years have passed since that day, and now Hoppe has returned to the Hill, this time as the chief of staff to Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). The task of taming the warring herd of House Republicans will largely fall to him....Today, Hoppe is described by multiple friends and former associates as an effective strategist and operator, a silent man-behind-the-man who quietly deploys his instincts and connections on behalf of the office he serves. The austere Wisconsinite is known for his privacy, and in the last three decades, Hoppe has become something of a cipher, eschewing media coverage and the speaking circuit, even after he left Congress for multiple stints on K Street."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=67a515aa5942cb2ecf433f0f943388eb3c9664ae727ba84aa3e6cd8f727009de

TRANSPORTATION CONFERENCE EYES A ROAD THAT COULD LEAD INTO DECEMBER. Pro Transpo's Heather Caygle and Lauren Gardner: "Although aides say they're still optimistic that at least a handshake agreement can be reached by week's end, getting to yes on a long-term transportation bill is shaping up to be a long, slow slog with negotiations possibly continuing into December... Negotiators want to have a final deal headed to the president's desk by Dec. 4. But hurdles big and small are still standing in the way.

"Publicly, members and staff are mostly trying to maintain an upbeat, nothing-to-see-here attitude, rhetoric that's likely to be on display in the formal conference meeting scheduled for Wednesday. But behind the scenes, a food fight has broken out with conferees bickering within their party and across the dome as lawmakers try to home in on a final deal." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=67a515aa5942cb2e1ee5b4a0c7105eb94ab333f00c154148ad61401a726149c8

CLICKY - "LABRADOR REFUSES TO TAKE QUESTIONS FROM BREITBART REPORTER." Bres and Hadas Gold: "Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho), refused to take a question from a reporter for Breitbart on Tuesday, telling her she was not an honest reporter. In response, Breitbart executives called Labrador a 'liar.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=67a515aa5942cb2e60fb6fa5de58d118c5ff05e89353feb995299395ca582273

HILL PLUG: Former Joe Lieberman staffer-turned-deputy director for the Congressional Research Service, Colleen Shogan, just published her first mystery novel this week called, Stabbing in the Senate (CamelPress), part 1 of a three part series, we're told. Roll Call's Heard on the Hill with more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=67a515aa5942cb2eb35f1044768b6f746e867b2f6d6ce8910e95f1d7d8784472

TUESDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER. Chris Armstrong was the first to answer that Frank Knox, Al Landon's running mate in 1936, was the last VP candidate to have zero public office experience.

TODAY'S TRIVIA: Which comes from Johnny Zagrodnik: What politician gave Lyndon Johnson and the Democratic party its fiftieth vote in the Senate in 1957 after a surprising victory in a special election? Who was the politician and what state did they serve? Email rbade@politico.com.

GET HUDDLE emailed to your Blackberry, iPhone or other mobile device each morning. Just enter your email address where it says 'Sign Up.' http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=67a515aa5942cb2e881c32322bf2c683bc3a17805eb1d579c5ed2f71881de6f7

** A message from The Broad Tax Extenders Coalition: The consensus is clear: failure to pass tax extenders would hurt families, farmers, charities, and businesses. Over 2,000 nonprofits, charitable organizations, businesses and associations agree: permanent and multiyear tax extenders will support jobs, generate new investment and innovation, and boost charitable giving. Learn more at www.consensusisclear.org **

To view online:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=67a515aa5942cb2e97da8a8efd34df1b17da6fe7bb1b0b0dd0eafde0c5928835
To change your alert settings, please go to http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=67a515aa5942cb2ed00fa182ef8714c5ba6a4aa7461a4c44d865282c262749ad or http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=67a515aa5942cb2e2fe80c2adac34edeef7ab88cce772189c84c567fb6b3614fThis email was sent to Hbiden@rosemontseneca.com by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA


To unsubscribe,http://www.politico.com/_unsubscribe?e=00000151-1acf-d6a6-a1f1-3acfdd550000&u=0000014e-f0fe-dd93-ad7f-f8fffbc40000&s=085f2c890da00e2537b71455452d7b9211852393962d508718d6a685b262c3ae5219b4b027fa2be8eb72af2e4b08fe2740b127cee5615f29e8b8eff433d218b7