Dems to Netanyahu: Stay home

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Jun 04, 2024 View in browser
 
POLITICO Inside Congress

By Nicholas Wu and Anthony Adragna

Presented by 

PhRMA

With assists from POLITICO’s Congress team

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, front, attends a wreath-laying ceremony marking Holocaust Remembrance Day.

It’s a clear preview of the Benjamin Netanyahu address’ likely divisive effect on a Democratic Party already split over U.S. support for his military push in Gaza. | Pool Photo by Amir Cohen

INSIDE THE DEM SPLIT ON NETANYAHU'S SPEECH 

Congressional leaders are still searching for a time for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress. But no matter what he says about his nation’s ongoing war in Gaza, he’ll get a frosty reaction from a hefty bloc of Democrats.

Although Democrats are holding back from directly criticizing their leadership for extending the invite to the Israeli leader, lawmakers across the ideological spectrum are airing concerns about bringing Israel’s lightning-rod conservative leader in to speak. It’s a clear preview of the Netanyahu address’ likely divisive effect on a Democratic Party already split over U.S. support for his military push in Gaza.

Even staunch Israel allies like Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) — a former majority leader — called the requested address an “ill-timed visit.” Hoyer said he would be in on June 15 and planned to tell Netanyahu his feelings directly.

“There will be a lot of disruption, and it will not be helpful for Israel or its supporters,” he said.

Progressives like Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have been even more outspoken in their criticism of the bipartisan invitation since Hill leaders extended it last week. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) went so far as to break with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Tuesday and said he wouldn’t have offered the invite either.

“Benjamin Netanyahu has created a humanitarian crisis, and we should not give him a platform in front of the United States Congress,” Warren said in an interview.

House progressives were even more pointed: “We should not platform more war criminals period,” said Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.). “He should not come to this house.”

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) took a more nuanced view.

“I'm generally not supportive of closing our doors to foreign leaders,” he said. “I just really worry that if this visit happens in the absence of any progress on a peace deal and a hostage release, it's just going to be about benefiting Netanyahu’s personal politics back home.”

Senate Foreign Relations Chair Ben Cardin (D-Md.) said he’d withhold judgment on the Netanyahu speech but offered a hope that it would “advance peace in the Middle East and Israel security.”

Many House Democrats are still grumbling about the invitation being extended to Netanyahu when Speaker Mike Johnson did not invite remarks from Kenyan President William Ruto — a particularly sore point among the Congressional Black Caucus.

Asked Tuesday about the invitation to Netanyahu, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told reporters that invitations to foreign leaders came from agreements between the House and Senate majority parties.

“That process took place in the context of the invitation to the head of state of the state of Israel, a democratic ally,” he said. He added that he plans to attend the speech “like every single joint address to Congress,” and that members of his caucus would make their own decisions on whether to attend.

Important context there: Johnson also teed up legislation on Tuesday that would punish the International Criminal Court for issuing warrants for Netanyahu and other players in his government. That measure, largely geared toward political messaging, passed the House with 42 Democratic votes but is set to hit a wall in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Cardin, the Senate Foreign Relations chair, said the “partisan” nature of Tuesday’s House-passed legislation would make it harder to reach bipartisan compromise to push back on the ICC.

“We're all in agreement the ICC prosecutor was wrong. We all want to see him change course,” the Maryland Democrat told Inside Congress. “But now the House is prepared to act in a very partisan way, it makes it more difficult for us.”

Back to Netanyahu: Still other Democrats, even some well-known progressives, offered a more full-throated endorsement of the Israeli leader’s planned speech, the date of which remains unfixed.

“Congress and the American people could benefit from hearing Prime Minister Netanyahu’s thoughts about the current situation,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).

Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said that “I don’t second guess Chuck’s decision-making,” even as she criticized Netanyahu’s handling of the war and noted “obviously there's some political games being played by the House Republicans here.”

Among the most vocal critics of both parties for extending the invite is Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who called it “a very sad day for our country” that Democrats and Republicans agreed to hear from the prime minister amid international frustration over the civilian toll that operations in Gaza have taken on Palestinians.

— Nicholas Wu and Anthony Adragna 

 

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GOOD EVENING! Welcome to Inside Congress, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Tuesday, June 4, where we’re not loving the humidity.

IT’S RAINING MEN

A group of House members are planning to join veterans, service members and others this week in leaping from a plane in France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

And some of them say they’re hearing more fear for their safety than they are support.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), a former Navy SEAL, alluded to apprehension from party leadership, citing the broad worry that members could get hurt while jumping from the plane – or even, in the worst-case accident scenario, put the the now two-seat GOP majority at risk.

Asked if he was getting pushback out of concern about the party’s paper-thin majority, Van Orden replied: “You know what? Some things are worth doing. And if we lose the majority because some of us are paying respect to the Greatest Generation, so be it.”

The group of sky-bound lawmakers is dominated by House Republicans, including Reps. Dan Crenshaw (Texas), Michael Waltz (Fla.), Ronny Jackson (Texas), Keith Self (Texas), Cory Mills (Fla.) and Rich McCormick (Ga.). They are joined by Democratic Rep. Jason Crow (Colo.) – a group entirely made up of military veterans.

Jackson and Self said they haven’t had pushback from leadership, though Self said there’s been some concern over the Army’s sponsorship of the trip.

“The Army would not support jumpers in the CODEL because they didn't want the liability of the jump,” Self said.

As for the fear of an accident impacting the majority, Self replied nonchalantly: “That was probably said because we do have a thin majority. But the people that are jumping, all are experienced – so if we did get hurt, it would probably be a broken leg. There would be no serious injuries.”

Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.), a former military combat pilot, quipped that he is not participating in the parachute jump because he spent his career making sure he didn’t jump or get ejected from perfectly good planes. And he predicted those who do may come back with some injuries.

“I think the over-under on the Normandy parachuting jump is five broken bones,” he said. “I don't know if that's one dude with five broken bones or five people with one broken bones — but the over-under is five broken bones.”

When the sky falls: Unlike modern-day commercial skydiving, those doing the jump this week will be operating under similar conditions to those soldiers faced during World War II. That includes jumping from a C-47 Skytrain with an old-school fashioned parachute, with the goal being a fast descent to avoid being shot down.

Van Orden, for his part, said he plans to parachute with an American flag that's already been flown over the Capitol, and intends to hand it to a 107-year-old World War II veteran from his district who will be on the ground.

– Olivia Beavers

 

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MONDAIRE JONES ENDORSEMENT ROILS DEMS 

Former Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.) drew a swift backlash from some of his former House colleagues after endorsing Westchester County Executive George Latimer’s primary challenge to Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.).

Jones, who’d aligned with the left flank of the Democratic caucus during his first stint in Congress – joining progressive “Squad” members in protest on the Capitol steps against the expiration of a covid-era eviction moratorium – is now facing barbs from his former colleagues. Although several members of the “Squad” got to Congress by taking out incumbents in the first place, the endorsement against one of their own by a former ally cut close to home.

“He positioned himself as, like, Squad-adjacent during his time in Congress,” said Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.). “And then now, when it is beneficial to him, he will go against someone who actually was there for him.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) called it a “destructive decision for the party.”

“I think that in order for us to win in November, we have to have Democratic unity,” she said.

Jones’ endorsement of Latimer also sparked some consternation among members of the Congressional Black Caucus, who generally back all incumbents.

“It has clearly created some confusion,” said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), a former chair of the influential bloc. “We have a tradition … that we don’t go against incumbents. … But there may be some unique circumstances in this.”

Jones had cited Bowman’s positions on Israel as factoring into his decision to back the challenger. He defended his choice Tuesday, telling our colleague Emily Ngo: “It is the height of hypocrisy that people who would push agendas wholly unrepresentative of the 16th Congressional District would accuse someone else of being politically opportunistic.”

— Nicholas Wu and Emily Ngo 

HUDDLE HOTDISH

John Rose’s son continues his moments of viral fame: He gave an interview outside the GOP conference meeting. “Are you excited you are not in school?” “Yeah,” he replied.

Thomas Massie was very glass half-empty — but still showed up for work.

The second annual “Sneaker Day on the Hill” will be June 12. Dust off those sneaks!

Kevin McCarthy says he misses “some people” as he made the rounds on Capitol Hill again.

Always be careful with the hot mics.

We love this young Andy Kim throwback.

Milwaukee is the Ho Chi Minh City of America?

The Hill interns are back.

Joe Manchin (?-W.Va.).

 

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QUICK LINKS 

Lawmakers expensed millions in 2023 under new program that doesn’t require receipts, from Jacqueline Alemany, Clara Ence Morse and Liz Goodwin at The Washington Post

Goldman intro’s bill, pitching independent investigative body to probe ethics complaints at U.S. Supreme Court, from Kevin Frey at Spectrum News

What do car dealers in Congress think of EVs?, From Timothy Cama at E&E News

 

DON’T MISS POLITICO’S ENERGY SUMMIT: The future of energy faces a crossroads in 2024 as policymakers and industry leaders shape new rules, investments and technologies. Join POLITICO’s Energy Summit on June 5 as we convene top voices to examine the shifting global policy environment in a year of major elections in the U.S. and around the world. POLITICO will examine how governments are writing and rewriting new rules for the energy future and America’s own role as a major exporter. REGISTER HERE.

 
 

TRANSITIONS 

Reggie McCrimmon is joining Crossroads Strategies as SVP. He previously was government affairs and public policy manager at Google, and is a Twitter and Congressional Black Caucus alum.

Daniel E. White is now deputy assistant secretary for strategic integration and policy planning at DHS. He most recently was deputy chief of staff to the secretary of the Army.

Hannah Anderson is joining the America First Policy Institute as director of the Center for a Healthy America. She previously was health policy adviser for the Senate HELP GOP.

TOMORROW IN CONGRESS

The House and Senate are in.

TUESDAY AROUND THE HILL

11:45 a.m. Senator Markey on the right to contraception act (Senate Swamp)

12:00 p.m. Reps. Schakowsky and Doggett on the need for staffing standards to address growing care crisis in U.S. nursing homes (House Triangle)

 

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TRIVIA

MONDAY’S ANSWER: Alex Smith was the first to correctly guess that William Gibbs McAdoo (Woodrow Wilson’s son in law) was the son-in-law of a former President who led the delegate vote for 77 ballots during the 1924 Democratic National Convention but did not receive his party’s nomination on the 103rd ballot.

TODAY’S QUESTION, from Alex: Which member of Congress did Thomas Jefferson describe as “a man who never said a foolish thing in his life”?

The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Inside Congress. Send your answers to insidecongress@politico.com.

GET INSIDE CONGRESS emailed to your phone each evening.

 

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