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02/08/2018 08:00 AM EDT


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

CONGRESS STRIKES A BUDGET DEAL -- Lawmakers may be done kicking the can on government funding. Congressional leaders clinched a deal Wednesday to lift strict budget caps on defense and domestic spending, setting up a vote today in the Senate, with the House expected to follow suit to avert a government shutdown at midnight. "The deal is expected to increase defense and domestic spending by roughly $300 billion over two years, according to administration and congressional sources, as well as lift the debt ceiling through the election and include tens of billions of dollars in disaster aid," Burgess and Bres report. "It's likely to pass easily [in the Senate], but House approval will be a
tougher lift."

If the measure clears both chambers today, "lawmakers would then put together a long-term spending package over the coming weeks that would fund the government through September, granting a measure of peace to Washington as attention turns to the midterm elections in November," Thomas Kaplan reports for The New York Times. "Heading into the midterm elections, it would also enable lawmakers to go home and claim success at delivering funds for pressing needs, like fighting the opioid epidemic. By setting overall spending levels through September 2019, the deal would ease passage of spending legislation in the next fiscal year, as well." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a8caa22265a09352e5e4c1e701f05a3e98c9bccd2f5d69af7f1affc5a748ebba8be12e609e9678121b5a51601e16fc0f


A HOUSE DIVIDED -- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called the budget deal "the product of extensive negotiations among congressional leaders and the White House," and it includes "a great deal of what the American people want," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said. But divisions in the House, including opposition from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), could imperil the deal. "Progressives are frustrated that Senate Democrats cut a budget deal while relief for the young undocumented immigrants known as Dreamers remains in limbo -- and with nothing more than a commitment from McConnell to begin an open-ended immigration debate next week," Elana and
Heather report.

Some Republicans are also opposed. "Fiscal hawks on Capitol Hill panned the budget deal ... as fiscally irresponsible and an abrogation of the GOP's congressional majorities," Rachael, Burgess and Sarah Ferris report. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) blasted it as "a betrayal of everything limited government conservatism stands for," and the conservative House Freedom Caucus is expected to oppose the measure. "Facing protests on the right and the left, [House Speaker Paul] Ryan's whip team will have to scramble," they write. Government funding runs dry at midnight. More on opposition from the left: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a8caa22265a09352d576653b6d5f52115b35e32077c462b0c5be8cb0ee35e7b30996233cc583bd116c4e02166835905e and the right:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a8caa22265a093520b9abd341f7ede82c72137d16b7251ffe731b0ff5e9ee681cf238807acda6b3e18ab7c9e109bf54d

PELOSI PROTESTS BUDGET DEAL WITH 8-HOUR SPEECH -- Pelosi stood on the floor Wednesday and spoke for a historic eight hours in four-inch heels, an ultimately unsuccessful effort to secure a commitment for debate on an immigration bill in the chamber. Pelosi, who shared Dreamers' stories and read Bible passages, "used the speech to say she would lead opposition to a broad two-year budget agreement, negotiated with Republicans by her and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), that includes several Democratic priorities but does not address the legal status of people protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which is set to expire next month," The Washington
Post reports.

"But for some members on both ends of her caucus who tuned in, the daylong protest did little to repair the fissure pitting lawmakers against one another on immigration and budget talks," Heather reports. "Though Pelosi participated in the negotiations that produced Wednesday's deal, she had the least leverage of all the leaders." While the budget caps deal is expected to clear the Senate, it's not clear whether enough Democrats will support it to avert a government shutdown. Allowing the government to shut down, however, could nullify McConnell's promise to allow an open floor debate on immigration next week. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a8caa22265a093527579b5f99205965b43c5996e0746b8836b16e4ddef12b756f5301d3298d5bd327b7e680b1cc27603

IT'S DEADLINE DAY TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OPEN. Thanks for reading Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, Feb. 8.

WEDNESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Heather and Bres' report on the Democratic Party's post-Pelosi "intraparty war" was the big winner.

PRESSURE GROWS ON HUNTER TO RETIRE -- Federal prosecutors have subpoenaed Rep. Duncan Hunter's (R-Calif.) parents and a female lobbyist many believe Hunter was romantically involved with, moves that come as the criminal investigation into whether he improperly diverted political funds for personal use intensifies. "The Justice Department is trying to determine whether hundreds of thousands of dollars from Hunter's campaign account were spent improperly on his family and friends," Rachael and Bres report. "Hunter already sold his home to pay back what even he now acknowledges were improper charges, moving his wife and kids in with his parents while he mostly lives in his Capitol Hill office."

Hunter's friends once considered him a hero. As an ex-Marine, he served three tours as an artillery officer in Afghanistan and Iraq. "Now, the five-term lawmaker's Republican colleagues worry that he's on the brink of personal and political ruin," they write. "Some Republicans are urging GOP leaders to force him to retire, worried that his troubles could cost the party another seat in its uphill effort to maintain the House majority." Much more from Rachael and Bres: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a8caa22265a093528dfe7f127cb6dc378a34d2f5e5b1b055a5e31b6b5f73e7c2ea98d10de8806b09f0a2012d27dea34f

TRUMP DECISION ON DEM MEMO LOOMS -- President Donald Trump is expected to inform lawmakers as early as Friday whether he will support the public release of a Democratic rebuttal memo, a counter to a memo crafted by Republicans alleging that the FBI abused its spying powers while investigating the Trump campaign in 2016. "White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly has given the president's legal team until close of business Thursday to complete its assessment of the Democrats' memo, which Kelly will then use to brief and advise the president," Karoun Demirjian reports for The Washington Post. "Trump has until late Saturday -- five days after the House Intelligence Committee voted to release
the document -- to block it or request redactions." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a8caa22265a093526160aa971fc63a420b8a7e1402f12ab73a25d4e7f4432f3dd3c03f36ca053a2c0086dde44e4ab5d4

PENCE PAC GIVES CASH TO 30 HOUSE REPUBLICANS -- Vice President Mike Pence's leadership PAC, Great America Committee, is donating money to four governors, three senators, 30 House members and one congressional candidate in its second round of donations. The group gave $5,400 to each congressional candidate, including vulnerable Reps. Rod Blum (R-Iowa), Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), Jason Lewis (R-Minn.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), John Culberson (R-Texas) and John Faso (R-N.Y.). Absent from the list is "the incumbent who arguably needs it most: Rep. Carlos Curbelo," Marc Caputo reports. The omission, however, "isn't necessarily bad news for Curbelo, who occupies the most anti-Trump seat of any Republican
running for reelection in Congress."

Worth noting: Nearly a third of the House donations are going to incumbents who aren't in competitive races, including Reps. Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio), Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), David Joyce (R-Ohio), John Katko (R-N.Y.), Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.), Brian Mast (R-Fla.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Austin Scott (R-Ga.) and Rob Woodall (R-Ga.). According to Cook Political Report, a handful of those incumbents occupy seats "not considered competitive at this point, but have the potential to become engaged." Full list of Pence's donations here: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a8caa22265a09352901fd523ca2e74e40b807d4fd3e4387f0408760f6ac852e625163f6a70a75cf9bc3139dc644d1f26

Related: "Biden tells Democrats: 'We're gonna win back the House,'" from Heather: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a8caa22265a093528c672bf3c4aed8e995541996f11c49bb5720b329082921b36d8cd8819ab182cbd01fa5b09ee69523

HATCH 'HEARTBROKEN' BY PORTER ALLEGATIONS -- Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said he was "heartbroken" by recent allegations that White House staff secretary Rob Porter, Hatch's former chief of staff, had abused two of his ex-wives. Porter denies the allegations but announced his resignation Wednesday. For his part, Hatch condemned domestic violence as "abhorrent and unacceptable" and said he would pray for all involved. White House aides "had been aware generally of accusations against Porter since late last year," The Washington Post reports. "Porter's ex-wives said they informed the FBI in January 2017 of their allegations against him while they were being
interviewed by agents as part of Porter's security clearance review."

Porter worked closely with chief of staff John Kelly, who pressed him to stay and issued two very different separate statements on Porter -- before and after pictures were published of Porter's first wife with a black eye. A Porter ex-girlfriend who also works in the administration "contacted White House counsel Don McGahn and voiced her distress after discovering evidence of a romantic relationship between Porter and White House communications director Hope Hicks," Andrew Restuccia and Eliana Johnson report. "She also alleged that he had abused his two ex-wives." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a8caa22265a0935235edfbb0ac3deff257a13790ed012d72e034358f72484804d9c3a5d5e5254551ab3083fae01963f1

LAWMAKERS RAIN ON TRUMP'S PARADE -- Military veterans Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) told Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in a letter Wednesday that just "because authoritarian regimes like Russia and North Korea hold massive military parades does not mean that we must as well." Nevertheless, preparations for a military parade at the behest of the president are underway. Democrats largely oppose the idea, while Republicans have been more open minded. Sen. Lindsey Graham said a parade could be an "appropriate" thank you. "But I am not interested in a military hardware display that would be cheesy and project weakness," he told CNN.

"I think confidence is silent and insecurity is loud," added Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), who told reporters America doesn't need to show off its military. "The critics urged the administration to either scrap the idea or settle on a relatively small celebration to honor the men and women in uniform -- without the kind of the weapons and heavy equipment commonly featured in parades in Moscow, Beijing and Pyongyang," Bryan Bender reports. A 1991 Washington parade of about 8,000 troops and displays of missiles and other large weapons drew an estimated 800,000 spectators and cost $12 million, "considerably more than initially predicted." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a8caa22265a09352a1fcdaa46a91a23c559d16bed329a8253f8361eb2d3676e300f43344d6c1fc7fc11a23e16e7d8d7f

GOP LAWMAKERS PUSH TRUMP TO PRESERVE NAFTA -- Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee used a rare White House meeting with the president Wednesday to urge him to preserve NAFTA and, ultimately, jobs in their districts. Hatch, the Senate Finance Committee chairman, requested the meeting to discuss trade issues. "Nearly all Republican members of the committee attended the Wednesday afternoon meeting, and all were intent on underscoring how pacts like NAFTA support millions of jobs in the United States," Megan Cassella, Seung Min and Adam Behsudi report. "Lawmakers also used the face time with Trump to show how trade specifically affects the states they represent." More:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a8caa22265a0935295ec2dc80057ca187626d392f35efadb28fd6cf7e3a3d5109488f08357b4ea02fee24ef35cefb8bf

TRUMP PICKS OGE DIRECTOR -- Trump intends to nominate Emory Rounds, associate counsel at the Office of Government Ethics, to lead OGE. "Rounds served in the White House counsel's office under President George W. Bush before joining OGE in 2009," Josh Gerstein reports. His nomination to a five-year term, which requires Senate confirmation, was praised by former OGE Director Walter Shaub, a Trump antagonist who resigned last July. "Emory is an excellent choice," Shaub told POLITICO. "He's a good man who has devoted his life to public service. He will lead OGE ably." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a8caa22265a0935295a4df1c81ca5455d8e11719026649127a15d09fed090d5cc3efd7a2138d89671621547bbebfc697

Related read: "GOP friendly fire imperils Trump nominees," via Anthony Adragna: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a8caa22265a0935210973f8c26654c9f783d547ed873382b32549985ef7bbf05f9cf2ab9a64848be5b9eba8c89828231

WELCOME TO THE WORLD -- Anderson Heiman, a senior adviser for technology for Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and the Senate Finance Committee, and Aileen Gleizer, an associate director for emergency health programs and operations at Save the Children, recently welcomed Mila Lee Heiman. "She weighed in at 9 lbs 10 oz, 21.75 inches. Mila was the Russian nickname for Aileen's grandpa, and Lee is Andy's father's first name and mother's middle name." Pics: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a8caa22265a0935235d3dba8992377d860dd465659973078273cdb8cf15380c1c73504619e062ef2027296e765fb5f85 ... http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a8caa22265a09352752b40cc077d09142b1d9940328eb50a3fdebe2d51499e78cb80e939a29df43b3ccc9ac43be28922

TODAY IN CONGRESS -- The House gavels in at 9 a.m. with first votes expected around 10:30 a.m. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a8caa22265a09352a3813a950b006325c7066d3d79f941c07a1c04e2f12e7aa22493a350988d1e4681eec4a1ca1e48e2 The Senate meets at 10:30 a.m. with a procedural vote on a defense appropriations bill expected at 11:30 a.m. The chamber also expects to vote on a short-term spending bill and budget caps deal. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=a8caa22265a09352b6ff4ead1b7bcb81b6c92ea9c031da7e09ec57755375f80089e8e6eb90c9477c09e3266b80d79a7e

AROUND THE HILL -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Reps. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and others will hold a press conference to unveil A Better Deal to Rebuild America at 9:15 a.m. in HVC-Studio A.

Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) will hold a conference call briefing to discuss a budget agreement they helped reach to provide additional funding to respond to the opioid epidemic at 10 a.m. RSVP to Sarah_Weinstein@Shaheen.Senate.Gov for call-in information.

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

Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) and others will hold a news conference on the budget deal at 4:15 p.m. in HVC-Studio A.

WEDNESDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER -- Kip Eideberg was first to correctly guess that 55 current U.S. senators have graduated from law school.

TODAY'S TRIVIA -- Kip with today's question: Which vice president delivered the first vice-presidential speech ever carried live by all major TV networks? 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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