NEW YORK MINUTE: President Joe Biden was set to be in New York City today after stumbling through a disastrous debate performance late Thursday in which he reignited concerns about his age and struggled to push back on former President Donald Trump’s falsehoods. The Democrat was expected to help mark the opening of the new Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center memorializing the 1969 Stonewall riots, then attend an LGBTQ+ fundraiser for his reelection campaign. JONES AND BIF: Claiming credit for one of Biden’s signature legislative achievements is becoming a point of contention in one of the most competitive House races in the country. Former Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones has said he was key in getting the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act over the finish line — a claim that’s being called into question by those on both sides of the bargaining table. Jones’ campaign website says, “He negotiated passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.” Jones has also told multiple publications and news outlets a similar story: He negotiated the law’s passage in the House and was “instrumental” in getting the bill through the chamber. Two Republicans and one Democrat who are familiar with the negotiations over the law remember it differently. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), a chief GOP negotiator, told Playbook that he doesn’t recall Jones being deeply involved in the talks. “The bipartisan infrastructure bill was led by Rep. (John) Katko and Rep. (Conor) Lamb, and it was drafted and championed by our Bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus and our Senate counterparts,” Fitzpatrick wrote in an email. “If anyone else is claiming involvement, that’s certainly interesting news to me.” Katko, the Syracuse moderate now out of office after declining to run for reelection in 2022, backed up Fitzpatrick’s recollection of Jones’ involvement. “I don’t remember him being there,” Katko said. Jones is now running for the Hudson Valley seat he held for one term and faces Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, a top target for Democrats this year as the party tries to retake control of the House. Jones said in an interview with Playbook on Thursday that he’s never claimed to have been involved in the high-level bargaining over the specifics of the bill. Instead, he was part of the late-stage effort to get the Democratic factions of moderates and progressives on board to solidify the deal, Jones said. “I negotiated the agreement by which it was passed into law,” he said. “Never have I said, or would I say, that I negotiated the provisions of the infrastructure bill.” Jones recalled being in the room when Democrats were trying to craft a final sign-off. “We said, ‘Guys, we have to do this,’” he said. “‘We have to get this passed.’” But at least one Democrat does not recall Jones, a freshman at the time, playing a major role. “He wouldn’t be lying to say he was there in a meeting the night where we were going back and forth,” the Democrat, who was granted anonymity to speak frankly, said. “That’s not dishonest. But to say he was more involved than that would be a stretch.” Lawler’s campaign, however, is not seeing the nuance. “Can anyone trust a word that comes out of Mondaire’s mouth?” Lawler spokesperson Chris Russell said. “So far, the answer is clear — no.” — Nick Reisman HAPPY FRIDAY. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.
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