| | | | |  | | By Eugene Daniels, Rachael Bade and Ryan Lizza | | Presented by |  | | | With help from Eli Okun, Garrett Ross and Bethany Irvine
| | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | WHITE SMOKE — Congressional appropriators released the final six-bill, $1.2 trillion, 1,012-page federal spending bill for fiscal 2024 shortly before 3 a.m. Reminder: Large parts of the government will shut down at midnight Friday if it’s not passed. Read the bill The big picture … “The six-measure bundle is the most substantial bipartisan legislation Speaker MIKE JOHNSON has negotiated during his nearly five months leading the House, representing a much more controversial package than the one Congress cleared earlier this month. … The cross-party compromise is also a conclusive defeat for House conservatives.” More from Caitlin Emma and Jennifer Scholtes What’s in the bill … 24% increase in DHS detention beds for migrants … funding for 22,000 Border Patrol agents … 12,000 additional Special Immigrant Visas for Afghan allies … no funding for UNRWA through March 2025 … one-year PEPFAR extension … $1 billion bump for child care and Head Start programs … $120 million for cancer research, $100 million for Alzheimer’s … funding for new FBI headquarters … no member COLAs What they’re saying … Johnson: “House Republicans have achieved significant conservative policy wins, rejected extreme Democrat proposals, and imposed substantial cuts to wasteful agencies and programs while strengthening border security and national defense.” … Senate Approps Chair PATTY MURRAY (D-Wash): “We defeated outlandish cuts that would have been a gut punch for American families and our economy — and we fought off scores of extreme policies that would have restricted Americans’ fundamental freedoms, hurt consumers while giving giant corporations an unfair advantage, and turned back the clock on historic climate action.” What’s next … The House is expected to vote tomorrow under suspension of the rules, followed by a white-knuckle, jet-fumes-powered ride through the Senate. Both chambers are set to break for a two-week recess afterward.
|  A group of progressive lawmakers led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) are seizing the moment to relaunch their “Green New Deal for Public Housing” today . | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images | | EXCLUSIVE: A ‘GREEN NEW DEAL’ FOR HOUSING — A group of progressive lawmakers led by Rep. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-N.Y.) and Sen. BERNIE SANDERS (I-Vt.) will gather later today on Capitol Hill to relaunch their “Green New Deal for Public Housing.” It’s the latest sign that Democrats across the ideological spectrum are zeroing in on housing as an under-addressed issue that could carry a huge upside politically. It comes on the heels of President JOE BIDEN’s State of the Union address, where he outlined a plan to lower housing costs that he’s now taking on the road. In an exclusive interview with Playbook, Ocasio-Cortez says that the aim of the legislation is to “reimagine and reinvigorate public housing in the United States” while addressing “many of the environmental injustices that public housing residents have faced” (hence the “Green New Deal” moniker). Read the full legislation This all raises a rather obvious question: Why center this Green New Deal on public housing specifically, rather than all housing in general? After all, the anxieties related to housing aren’t limited to public housing — indeed, in America, homeownership is often what is aspired to rather than living in government-owned properties. But AOC sees a moment where those old ways of thinking are becoming “unsustainable” and out of touch with the realities of modern life. “For a long time, we could pass a tax incentive here or there and say, ‘Hey, we've got a great housing policy,’” Ocasio-Cortez told Playbook. “And everyday people … were supportive because there was still that dream and that idea that ‘I'm going to be buying a home soon … that's within the horizon for me.’ Right now, we have an entire generation — that is ascending into becoming the most powerful electorate, the largest electorate — for which that is decades away.” What it would do: The bill’s single biggest policy change is that it would repeal the Faircloth amendment. That’s a rule that is little known to the broader public but familiar to policy wonks: Since its enactment in 1999, the amendment has effectively blocked the Department of Housing and Urban Development from funding new public housing. Beyond that seismic shift, the bill’s latest version being unveiled today has some substantive changes from earlier drafts of the legislation, including (1) directing more money to address the public housing backlog that affects millions of Americans and (2) funding clean-energy improvements to public housing — including language to ensure that any jobs created are unionized. That’s the policy element. And let’s be real: This is not going to get adopted by this Congress, and possibly many more to come. But as with the original Green New Deal, the goal isn’t simply to pass the legislation; it’s to have the fight and pull the Overton window to the left — reshaping the contours of the conversation about housing in America in the process. “No housing conversation is complete without a conversation around public housing,” Ocasio-Cortez told us. “We in the United States have lived under the scourge of the Faircloth amendment for decades, and that has helped precipitate — and contributed to — the housing crisis that we are living in today. A major part of our housing problem is a supply problem.” What does Biden make of all this? We asked the White House yesterday whether the administration supports the Green New Deal for Public Housing. Their response was decidedly noncommittal. “As he laid out in his State of the Union address and again this week in Nevada, President Biden is laser focused on lowering housing costs for owners and renters alike,” deputy press secretary MICHAEL KIKUKAWA told Playbook. “We welcome ideas from members of Congress to build on our strong agenda.” Still, Ocasio-Cortez is optimistic about what she’s seen lately from Biden on housing. “We are starting to see them wade into these waters,” she said. “We saw the president mention housing during his State of the Union. They're starting to do more events explicitly centered on this issue and [talking] about this issue more. I think that we are going to see the White House do more. And we're going to have to do more.” Good Thursday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop us a line: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza.
| | A message from the American Bankers Association: Credit card points and cash back rewards help Americans save, travel and shop — but some in Congress want to end those benefits, just like they shut down debit card rewards in 2011. The misguided Durbin-Marshall bill would eliminate credit card rewards, reduce access to credit cards and jeopardize consumer privacy. Don’t let lawmakers take away your hard-earned rewards just to pad the profits of corporate mega retailers. Tell Congress to oppose Durbin-Marshall. Act now. | | | TRUMP’S MONEY PROBLEMS, PART I — The big takeaway from last night’s FEC deadline? JOE BIDEN has a major fundraising advantage over DONALD TRUMP. In February:
- Biden’s campaign raised $21.3 million. Cash on hand: $71 million.
- Trump’s campaign raised $10.9 million. Cash on hand: $33.5 million.
- The Democratic National Committee raised $16.6 million. Cash on hand: $26.5 million.
- The Republican National Committee raised $10.7 million. Cash on hand: $11.3 million.
For those of you who aren’t math majors, the combined sums of Biden and the DNC more than doubled the combined sums of Trump and the RNC. (Those totals don’t include either side’s joint fundraising committees or super PACs.) More from Elena Schneider, Jessica Piper And Zach Montellaro TRUMP’S MONEY PROBLEMS, PART II — Trump’s leadership PAC, Save America, spent another $5.6 million on legal expenses in February, and was “kept afloat” by a $5 million refund from MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump super PAC, Jessica Piper, Natalie Allison and Zach Montellaro write. MAGA Inc. “has now sent more than $50 million to Save America since last year to help cover Trump’s many legal costs,” and there are serious doubts about how much longer it can afford to do that. TRUMP’S MONEY PROBLEMS, PART III — The RNC raised $10.6 million last month, a total that is “unlikely to help the party cut into Democrats’ massive fundraising advantage heading into the general election campaign,” our colleagues Natalie Allison and Jessica Piper report. (It has $11.3 million cash on hand — less than the $11.5 million NIKKI HALEY’s now-defunct campaign had in the bank at the end of February.) TRUMP’S MONEY PROBLEMS, PART IV — “As Donald Trump faces dwindling options to pay off a massive fine imposed as a result of losing a fraud case in New York, financial experts say filing for bankruptcy would provide one clear way out of his financial jam. But Trump is not considering that approach, partially out of concern that it could damage his campaign,” WaPo’s Jonathan O'Connell and Josh Dawsey report. ON THE OTHER HAND … “Trump Is in Line for a $3.5 Billion Windfall From Stake in Truth Social,” by WSJ’s Amrith Ramkumar
| | | | A message from the American Bankers Association:   | | | | | WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY | | On the Hill The Senate is in. Treasury Secretary JANET YELLEN will testify before the Senate Finance Committee at 10 a.m. The House will meet at 10 a.m. Agriculture Secretary TOM VILSACK will testify before a House Appropriations subcommittee at 10 a.m. OMB Director SHALANDA YOUNG will testify before the House Budget Committee at 10 a.m. Yellen and Young will testify before a House Appropriations subcommittee at 2:30 p.m. 3 things to watch …
- Every year the Republican Study Committee puts out a budget proposal packed with hardcore conservative policy provisions, and most years, it’s promptly forgotten. Not so this election year: The latest proposal from the sprawling bloc of House conservatives proposes to raise the Social Security retirement age, Bloomberg’s Jack Fitzpatrick reports, and Democrats are eagerly seizing on that to undermine Trump’s claims that he’ll leave federal entitlements intact. The White House is getting in on the backlash this morning, issuing a fact sheet that highlights several unpopular provisions and insists that Biden is “standing against this new House Republican budget.” Read the fact sheet
- How are things going these days inside the House GOP? Consider these two not entirely unrelated developments: Multiple House Republicans are attending a fundraiser, Olivia Beavers reported, for the primary opponent of Freedom Caucus Chair BOB GOOD (R-Va) — including delegation-mate JEN KIGGANS. The Freedom Caucus, meanwhile, voted out longtime member KEN BUCK (R-Colo.) Tuesday, the Hill’s Mychael Schnell reports — just days before his resignation.
- Some developments waaay down the leadership totem poles: Rep. JOE NEGUSE (D-Colo.) was elected the new assistant Democratic leader in an uncontested race, succeeding Rep. JIM CLYBURN (D-S.C.) as House Dems’ No. 4 honcho. And in the latest domino falling in response to MITCH McCONNELL’s upcoming exit from leadership, Sen. JAMES LANKFORD (R-Okla.) will seek to fill the soon-to-be-vacant vice chairmanship of the Senate Republican Conference, Burgess Everett reports.
At the White House Biden will receive the President’s Daily Brief in the morning. Later in the morning, Biden will travel to Houston, where he will participate in a campaign reception. The president will return to the White House in the evening. VP KAMALA HARRIS will receive briefings and conduct internal meetings with staff.
| | | | CALIFORNIA CLIMATE: Climate change isn’t just about the weather. It's also about how we do business and create new policies, especially in California. So, we have something cool for you: our California Climate newsletter. It's not just climate or science chat, it's your daily cheat sheet to understanding how the legislative landscape around climate change is shaking up industries across the Golden State. Cut through the jargon and get the latest developments in California as lawmakers and industry leaders adapt to the changing climate. Subscribe now. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | CONGRESS
| 
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) speaks with reporters after a press conference at the U.S. Capitol, on March 20, 2024. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | MOOD MUSIC — How do Democrats feel about Speaker Johnson’s aggressive use of the suspension calendar, effectively running the House with their help? Well, it’s a bit complicated. Our colleagues Nicholas Wu and Daniella Diaz take the temperature of the Democratic caucus: “Saving Johnson rather than allowing Republicans to stew in their own mess — as they did last fall, when the GOP struggled to replace its fired speaker for weeks — could prove counterproductive to Democrats’ goal of taking back the House. Even so, interviews with a dozen Democratic lawmakers from all ideological corners of the caucus reinforced that for now, the party doesn’t mind the help it’s giving Johnson.” But, but, but: “Democrats’ willingness to lend the speaker a hand may have an expiration date, however. If Johnson puts up standalone national security funding bills using the same fast-track gambit that he’s used in the past to lean on Democratic votes, which he’s told POLITICO that he is considering, he is likely to find less reliable backup across the aisle — particularly from progressives who are leery of unrestricted aid to Israel.”
- Senate Minority Leader MITCH McCONNELL yesterday dumped a bucket of cold water on the idea of turning some Ukraine aid into a loan, telling reporters: “We’re running out of time. And the best way we can get Ukraine the help they need is for the House to pass the Senate bill.” More from Burgess Everett
- Israeli PM BENJAMIN NETANYAHU continued his crusade against CHUCK SCHUMER, excoriating the majority leader in a private video call with Senate Republicans yesterday, NYT’s Annie Karni reports.
- JAMES COMER is going for it: The House Oversight chair said yesterday he would invite the president to publicly testify before his committee as Republicans continue their effort to impeach Biden, our colleague Jordain Carney reports. But don’t hold your breath: “IAN SAMS, a White House spokesperson for oversight and investigations, implied in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that Joe Biden would not be testifying. Sams called the forthcoming invitation a ‘sad stunt at the end of a dead impeachment.’”
2024 WATCH
| 
Donald Trump's campaign advisers are acknowledging the uneven transition to the general election. | Jamie Kelter Davis for POLITICO | WHAT COULD TRIP UP TRUMP — For all of Trump’s bravado on the campaign trail and in the courtroom, “his first two weeks as his party’s presumptive nominee have revealed old tendencies and new vulnerabilities that — taken in totality — amount to a rocky start to his general election campaign against Biden,” Adam Wren and Natalie Allison write. “Even inside the campaign, advisers are acknowledging the uneven transition to the general election. On a call with staff on Friday, a senior Trump campaign adviser lamented some of the recent news coverage, saying it had been a bad press week for the campaign, according to two people with knowledge of the call and granted anonymity to describe a private conversation. “The adviser was particularly concerned about an onslaught of news stories highlighting the Trump campaign’s abrupt decision to close Republican National Committee minority outreach centers and an early voting initiative as part of the campaign and national party’s recent merger.” Veepstakes: Meanwhile, Sen. MARCO RUBIO (R-Fla.) — once Trump’s presidential rival — is “moving up” the former president’s list of potential running mates, NBC’s Dasha Burns, Matt Dixon and Jonathan Allen report. “Rubio is young and telegenic, he's spent more time in federal office than Vice President Kamala Harris, and, at a time when Trump is bullish on his chances of winning over Latino voters, he would be the first non-white person ever to make a Republican presidential ticket.” More top reads:
| | | | A message from the American Bankers Association:   | | | ALL POLITICS
|  Jon Tester and Tim Sheehy are showing off their attempts fend off what they warn is China’s growing influence in Montana’s agriculture industry in new ads. | Matthew Brown/AP Photo | BIG IN BIG SKY COUNTRY — Chinese investors own just a tiny percentage of Montana’s vast farmland — but you wouldn’t know it watching the slew of campaign ads that Democratic Sen. JON TESTER and his GOP challenger TIM SHEEHY have been airing, Marissa Martinez reports. Tester and Sheehy are both “touting their efforts to fend off what they warn is China’s growing influence in Montana’s agriculture industry and economy, as they jostle for an edge in one of the country’s most hotly contested Senate races. Their allies, meanwhile, have been bashing the opposing candidate for past investments in companies tied to China.” More top reads:
POLICY CORNER KHAN-DO ATTITUDE — FTC Chair LINA KHAN continues to be one of the most interesting Biden Cabinet officials: Rep. MATT GAETZ (R-Fla.) had nothing but praise for one of the administration’s most serious enforcers, telling NOTUS’ Claire Heddles and Byron Tau: “I hope her work continues in the Trump administration.” Sen. J.D. VANCE (R-Ohio) also commended Khan’s work. “Where Khan’s detractors see overreach and an FTC unnecessarily antagonistic toward corporations, a handful of Republicans on Capitol Hill see a chairwoman willing to take on an entrenched force in American society.” BEYOND THE BELTWAY IMMIGRATION FILES — Texas officials yesterday urged a federal appeals court to revive the state’s controversial new law authorizing police to arrest and detain migrants suspected of illegally crossing the border from Mexico, Kierra Frazier and Josh Gerstein write. For now, the law remains on hold — but it is still causing confusion along the border. (Both WaPo’s Arelis Hernández and Patrick Svitek and WSJ’s Elizabeth Findell and Adolfo Flores have good reads on that.) AMERICA AND THE WORLD MIDDLE EAST LATEST — “U.S. to pitch Israel on securing Egypt-Gaza border as alternative to ‘smashing into Rafah,’” by The Times of Israel’s Jacob Magid FOR YOUR RADAR — “U.S. Rescues Americans in Haiti by Chopper as Gang Violence Escalates,” by WSJ’s Vivian Salama and Kejal Vyas THE ECONOMY FED UP — “Fed Officials Still See Three Interest-Rate Cuts This Year, Buoying Stocks,” by WSJ’s Nick Timiraos: “The stock market rose to new highs Wednesday when a narrow majority of Federal Reserve officials reaffirmed projections to cut interest rates three times this year despite firmer-than-anticipated inflation in recent months. While the latest data hadn’t given officials the confidence they would need to begin rate cuts, Chair JEROME POWELL said his outlook for inflation to continue declining hadn’t changed substantially in recent weeks.” THE WHITE HOUSE ONE TO WATCH — “White House: Attack on judicial nominee is ‘Islamophobic smear campaign,’” by WaPo’s Tobi Raji Related read: “Manchin won't vote for Biden judge picks that lack GOP support,” by Burgess Everett
| | | | Easily connect with the right N.Y. State influencers and foster the right relationships to champion your policy priorities. POLITICO Pro. Inside New York. Learn more. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | Julian Assange and the DOJ are reportedly exploring a plea deal. Mark Cuban attended a fundraiser for Joe Biden in Dallas. Ron DeSantis demurred when asked if he’ll campaign for Donald Trump in 2024. David Lammy, the man angling to be Britain’s next foreign secretary, has been doing his homework when it comes to Team Trump — including reading J.D. Vance’s “Hillbilly Elegy.” Kristi Noem’s aesthetic choices caught the eye of the NYT’s fashion critic. Bob Menendez’s kids are not so eager to talk about him these days. Michael Cohen’s hopes of ending probation early went kaput. Katie Britt is getting at least one type of boost from her SOTU response. OUT AND ABOUT — HBO and The Atlantic hosted a screening of the fourth episode of “The Regime,” starring Kate Winslet at the Motion Picture Association last night. Following the screening, Anne Applebaum moderated a conversation with executive producer Frank Rich and executive producer and showrunner Will Tracy. SPOTTED: Gail MacKinnon, Catherine Carroll, Eric Schultz, Emily Lenzner, Aamer Madhani, John Mercurio, Michael Falcone, Nandita Bose, Rob Wolfe and Josh Rogin. MEDIA MOVES — Hallie Jackson has been elevated to anchor of the Sunday edition of “NBC Nightly News.” She will also remain as daily anchor on “NBC News Now” and as a senior Washington correspondent. More from LA Times TRANSITIONS — Erin Sullivan is now U.S. House research director at American Bridge 21st Century. She previously was rapid response director at Facts First, and is an alum of multiple Democratic campaigns. … Stephanie Gadbois is joining Capitol 6 Advisors as VP of government affairs. She most recently was staff director and majority clerk for the House Appropriations Commerce Subcommittee. … Kalidou Gadio is joining DLA Piper as co-chair of the U.S.-Africa practice. He most recently was a partner at Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle. ENGAGED — Mitchell Rosenberg, chief of staff for the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Chase Jones, owner of florist shop Happy Poppy, got engaged over the weekend in Laguna Beach. Mitchell proposed first, but Chase, suspicious that it was happening, carried his own ring to counter-propose right then and there. Luckily, both men said yes. The couple has been together for three years and met at a running club in Sacramento. First proposal … second proposal HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Scott Raab of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office (5-0) … The Dispatch’s Jonah Goldberg … CNN’s John Berman … Progressive Change Campaign Committee’s Adam Green … Cenk Uygur … POLITICO’s Siena Duncan, Danny Clasen and Yesi Chappell ... Melissa Mattoon … Brian Ellner ... Narrative Strategies DC’s Ken Spain … Dan Wilson of Mercury … Andrew Bleeker of Bully Pulpit Interactive … FocusDC’s Matt Gerson … Ross Kyle of Van Scoyoc Associates … Nicole Smith of Miller/Wenhold Capitol Strategies … Andres Ramirez of Forbes Tate Partners … Andrew Brown … Fred Fielding ... Sharon Castillo … Taylor St. Germain of Reproductive Equity Now … John Mark Kolb of Rep. María Elvira Salazar’s (R-Fla.) office … Amy Joyce … Eileen Tansill … Dana Martin … Lynn Hidalgo … Aaron Hicks … Beatrice Jin … NewsNation’s Alex Arbaiza Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com or text us at 202-556-3307. Playbook couldn’t happen without our editor Mike DeBonis, deputy editor Zack Stanton and Playbook Daily Briefing producer Callan Tansill-Suddath.
| | A message from the American Bankers Association: Credit card rewards are more valuable than ever right now, with high prices and inflation still stinging our pockets — but some in Congress want to take away those rewards points and cash back in order to pad the profits of corporate megastores. The misguided Durbin-Marshall bill would end popular credit card rewards programs that benefit consumers and small businesses. The legislation would impose network routing requirements on banks that issue credit cards, prioritizing cheaper networks pushed by mega retailers that could compromise consumers’ personal information in the process. Tell Congress to leave your credit card rewards alone and stop meddling in the nation’s convenient, safe and trusted payments system. It’s time for lawmakers to protect your points and stand by consumers by opposing Durbin-Marshall. Act now. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
