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02/15/2018 08:00 AM EDT


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

A DIVIDED CONGRESS RESPONDS TO LATEST MASS SHOOTING -- A deadly school shooting Wednesday yet against exposed divisions in Congress as Republicans offered condolences and Democrats called for action. Police say a former high school student opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in South Florida with an AR-15, killing 17 people in what is now the 18th school shooting this year, according to the nonprofit group Everytown for Gun Safety. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he is "deeply saddened by the horrific violence," which House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) called "an unspeakable tragedy." Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) predicted on CNN that "people will wish
everybody thoughts and prayers and sympathy for the victims" but Congress "will do absolutely nothing." How some lawmakers responded: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128be3cb68a0103ed2402f8ab6f785ea45ee3aff0a5db810d82148d393e9a81818c1a7fafb216497dc83

CAN ANY IMMIGRATION DEAL SURVIVE THE SENATE? -- With time running out, a broad group of bipartisan senators reached a tentative deal late Wednesday to protect young immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children from deportation. But the White House is threatening to veto the proposal. "The president himself urged senators to defeat anything that falls short of his bill's four pillars: border wall money, a path to citizenship for 1.8 million young immigrants, cuts to family-based immigration and elimination of the diversity lottery," Burgess and Elana report. He also expressed opposition to "any short-term 'Band-Aid' approach."

Led by Sens. Angus King (I-Maine) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), the bipartisan amendment includes $25 billion for border security over the next decade and a 10- to 12-year pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. It would also restrict Dreamers' parents from becoming citizens and bar legal permanent residents from sponsoring adult, unmarried children. "The centrist proposal is a last-minute response to most senators' view that the president's framework, and its cuts to legal immigration, cannot pass the Senate and its supermajority threshold," they write. "Short of a compromise on a narrow bill, some senators argue that nothing will pass to address the DACA program Trump is rescinding." More:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128b6639a52fb3901666b909a2538932d2f027980d0e3dc8bc67bc6fc0423c56cf06100830a22f791301

The chamber is expected to vote on amendments today. "The new bipartisan plan is slated for a vote, as is the GOP proposal sought by Trump, another Republican bill that would punish 'sanctuary' cities and a bipartisan idea that would significantly water down Trump's demands," Ed O'Keefe, David Nakamura and Mike DeBonis report for The Washington Post. None of those proposals are likely to win 60 votes, however, and the Senate's immigration debate is supposed to end this week. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128b7d3ee7987152fde5ca0ed71debcd9a6791c436816e31ab5ffd994f92d9ef8e5460d245e694342f85

RYAN UNDER PRESSURE IN THE HOUSE -- Conservatives want House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) to bring a conservative immigration bill to the floor. House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) cast what Ryan does on immigration as "a defining moment" for his speakership and warned that getting it wrong "will have consequences for" Ryan and the GOP. "But many moderate Republicans are not on board with the conservative proposal, offered by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.)," Rachael and Bres report. The measure includes no pathway to citizenship for Dreamers but does include a provision that would force employers to verify the legal status of their employees.

GOP leaders aren't close to the 218 votes that would be needed to pass it, though. And Ryan has said to some members privately that he doesn't want to bring a bill up for a roll call unless it can pass. "Even if the bill were to pass the House, it would be certain to fall flat in the Senate, where Democratic support is needed to clear a 60-vote threshold," they note. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128bcf925fbe87cc7c26f0f32b8db8eef9380324e448fe4cd19aabe55fd42733c5ceddc4710f5fd089b8

Related: "Mark Meadows may be the most frustrated man in Washington," by Ben White: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128be07333b000dcf7017ce6415d2e48011d0cd8a1214e991ea838a463aa2c4b9f4bbc155a67945c47d0

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

WEDNESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Quorum's data on Bipartisan Valentines in Congress was the big winner.

OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE LAUNCHES PORTER INVESTIGATION -- House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) said his panel has initiated an investigation into the White House's employment of staff secretary Rob Porter, who resigned last week in the wake of domestic abuse allegations, which he denies. White House officials knew about the allegations last year but continued to employ Porter, who maintained an interim security clearance. Ranking member Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) suggested the panel will seek interviews with FBI Director Christopher Wray, White House counsel Don McGahn and chief of staff John Kelly. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128b2b5f8ac180a319faa73e2b28c7f9d93fcc9912aa1fd91e49c8e858e084f4581dcfd9d9ced81b73ee

Kelly's role in the Porter saga has prompted rumors of his replacement, including House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who told reporters he hasn't spoken to the president about a job and that there isn't an opening. "Several GOP lawmakers said McCarthy, who ran for speaker in 2015 but pulled out in the face of opposition from conservative hard-liners, still wants to be speaker someday," Bres and Rachael report. "And with an ally in Trump ... McCarthy believes it's within reach if Ryan were to leave." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128b26c67f3ed51ce994d03a5417418f581dc6e623ee1890c1b40e5c52fd9bb8f2988128c671b39a31e8

Related reads: "Republicans in Congress get embattled Kelly's back," by Burgess and Eliana Johnson: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128beed2cb490071880f525391b64b9222357c97f2928950798fd7316e3001c80596afa77be97dbb3485 "Kelly's uphill battle for redemption," via John F. Harris and Eliana: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128b397536b0a6325565205ae49d8c9c5fbc48cf5d843c53433d4c758fc6ef77896f0ced00136eca40a4 and "Sanders pushes for Kelly to face the press over Porter scandal," from Darren Samuelsohn, Matthew Nussbaum, Andrew Restuccia and Eliana: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128b43b6b83e613a50f35aa5af76635f98a023748e110ad9ab43afec0db405253aa12f4e1b7468cc8ee5

TRUMP ENDORSES GAS TAX INCREASE -- President Donald Trump expressed support for a 25-cent gas tax hike in Wednesday's meeting with lawmakers on infrastructure. "Trump's support came just two days after the White House released a long-awaited, $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan that didn't endorse such a politically perilous increase, and less than two months after he signed a mammoth tax code overhaul that would have provided cover for lawmakers supporting it," Lauren Gardner, Tanya Snyder and Brianna Gurciullo report. Bill Clinton is the last president to raise the federal gas tax, which came a year before Democrats lost both chambers of Congress. Much more:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128b757532e0fbc05be08dac06c7a07d1a19056ede9df465dfabbe94f8f4d5289a5e355e903d0ce12750

TRUMP'S MILITARY PARADE PRICE TAG -- White House budget director Mick Mulvaney told the House Budget Committee on Wednesday that the president's desired military parade could cost between $10 million and $30 million, "depending on the length" of the event. He said it's not in the president's budget because it came up at the last minute. "Officials such as Defense Secretary Jim Mattis have confirmed that Trump has pushed for a large-scale parade to trumpet the U.S. military, but Mulvaney said the administration hasn't decided to go forward with it," Andrew Taylor reports for The Associated Press. "Mulvaney said the administration would have to seek an appropriation from Congress or redirect
existing funds to finance the parade." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128b7bfeda56d35b1a823f04c74926e6efce6ce53759ca633903d9c175707170c7aee503290848760398

GRASSLEY UNLEASHED -- Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is "very incensed" at Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who told Grassley and ranking member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) in a letter that their bipartisan criminal justice bill "risks putting the very worst criminals back into our communities." "The legislation, which Grassley has worked on for more than two years, is expected to win committee approval Thursday," Elana reports. "But it faces a tough climb to the Senate floor amid reluctance from GOP leaders and conservative resistance." Grassley said Sessions should have resigned and run for his old Senate seat if he wanted to oppose the bill. More:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128b680ab81e7b9d78e2c493bde1ae87c1ec3da88cd50e5d16319f52a4272fe4ae2007b9270005ae0094

WARREN TAKES ON TRUMP OVER 'POCAHONTAS' -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren responded to critics who have accused her of misleading voters about her ethnic background. Warren said in a surprise visit to the National Congress of American Indians that she isn't enrolled in a tribe but her mother's family was "part Native American." "No one -- not even the president of the United States -- will ever take that part of me away," she said. "Trump has repeatedly derided Warren, who says her family is part Cherokee, as 'Pocahontas,'" Cristiano Lima and Lauren Dezenski report. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128b73fa3b06b16b2ef058abe52ea8a515a37db05ed135d81a55ea14c2b450ecab85db20c93b82112827

HOUSE DEMS SEEK $1B FOR ELECTION SECURITY -- House Democrats released a 56-page report and accompanying legislation Wednesday asking for more than $1 billion to protect the midterm elections from Russian interference. "The move is the latest in a series of unilateral efforts by Democrats to call attention to the vulnerabilities of the United States' election systems," Tim Starks and Cory Bennett report. "The memo proclaims that many in the GOP 'still refuse' to address the dangers of attacks from other nations, despite abundant evidence of Russia's meddling in 2016." Voting integrity experts say Congress is running out of time to act before the midterms. Much, much more:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128b74f3caaf16814c5cb11ca1c81121bfb40694820824122647e6559215def3b85c015ac4302231d9b8

Related Russia reads: "Centrist Democrats try new approach to Russia messaging," via Heather: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128b3fe4f57339fbdd79616e80beb7147d1f2f93150c02a267b4ac1861585bac3a4f59b43d3ba5591370 and "Schiff complains FBI, Justice Department making too many demands on Russia memo," by Kyle: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128be272142b7a846cc6d2e4421d48b51d5599956df37eeaca6a8355faeebeed53061f02225e7f63fffb

GOP SCOFFS AT PRUITT'S TRAVEL -- Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said Cabinet secretaries should fly coach. "I would be embarrassed to get on a plane, sit down in first class and have my constituents pass me by and see me in first class," he added. He isn't alone. A growing number of Republican lawmakers have expressed frustration at EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's first-class travel. "The mounting criticism comes as Pruitt took a first-class seat on a flight to Boston [on] Tuesday and after FOIA records showed he spent more than $1,600 on a flight from Washington to New York in June 2017," Anthony Adragna reports. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128bbd0e7b1a3b480becb05cfa4ce27da7a8a283ece383817726d994635bae1439b3c868d6ac443cce2c

EPA initially claimed Pruitt had a "blanket waiver" to fly first class whenever he travels but retracted its statement on Wednesday: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128bc556c49e7d0c008bb439fed5af890087deade82aa668bd3dab51b9340e822165e582e71333c5004e

ROMNEY POSTPONES SENATE ANNOUNCEMENT -- Mitt Romney has postponed his Utah Senate announcement in the wake of Wednesday's school shooting. The former GOP presidential candidate had planned to launch his Senate campaign this morning with a web video. "When he goes forward, Romney intends to carefully skirt questions about how he'll deal with the president and what could be in store for his future, amid speculation that he's already plotting a role in leadership or even another campaign for the White House," Alex Isenstadt reports. "Instead, Romney plans to keep it hyperlocal, presenting himself as someone who will tend to the state's needs even though his election is essentially a foregone
conclusion." Inside Romney's campaign strategy: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128be3b16816414971d2e5744a0f255d0046e4cea81ccf6b81f2016986f24913752b9ffe2fa6bf3a06ed

TODAY IN CONGRESS -- The House gavels in at 9 a.m. with first and last votes expected between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128b4aca9ad2e63b4bdcea5c03240e825df35d686de1bd4ab9e301dd1fd304bf86bed890dc9113956322 The Senate meets at 10 a.m. to resume consideration of the intended vehicle for immigration legislation. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qsH9dbac85ca9128b2368513ffa189053a47631195794f2c3b2ec7d4bcd804453d258ddca8bcf2c46ae23ae1d027a1c08

AROUND THE HILL -- Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Reps. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), Walter Jones (R-N.C.), Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) and others will host the U.S. Navy Amphibious Warship Congressional Forum with Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller at 8 a.m. in 2168 Rayburn.

Texas House members will hold a news conference on disaster relief supplemental funding at 10 a.m. in HVC-Studio A.

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

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) will hold his weekly media briefing at 11:30 a.m. in HVC-Studio A.

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) and others will hold a briefing with actor and activist Danny Glover on a resolution seeking to designate Jan. 1, 2015, to Dec. 31, 2024, as the International Decade for People of African Descent at 12 p.m. in 2253 Rayburn.

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) will hold a discussion with American Enterprise Institute visiting fellow Shane Tews on securing the Internet of Things at 12 p.m. in 325 Russell.

Reps. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) and Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) will join former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and others to discuss Hezbollah's future in Lebanon and the region at 12 p.m. in 2200 Rayburn.

Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) will hold a news conference with Infectious Diseases Society of America President Paul Auwaerter to discuss the need to invest $1 billion in funding for a universal flu vaccine that could be administered once or twice and provide a lifetime of protection at 12:30 p.m. in SVC-200.

Reps. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and others will hold a forum on the Labor Department's proposal to allow employers to pocket their employees' tips at 1:30 p.m. in 2247 Rayburn.

WEDNESDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER -- John Sullivan was first to correctly guess that Carl Albert ascended to the highest political office of any Oklahoman. He became speaker of the House and was nicknamed the "Little Giant from Little Dixie."

TODAY'S TRIVIA -- John with today's question: This person, before World War II, starred in a Hollywood film as a character occupying the highest office that 1972 presidential nominee George McGovern ever would and, during World War II, performed the same role in the 8th Air Force out of England that George McGovern performed in the 15th Air Force out of Italy. Who is he, what movie was he in and what is the role he and McGovern performed in the Air Force? 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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