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03/14/2019 08:07 AM EDT

By MELANIE ZANONA ([email protected]; @MZanona)


With an assist from Sarah Ferris and Andrew Desiderio

VETO, HERE WE COME -- Republicans are reluctantly marching toward a vote today on a resolution to kill President Donald Trump's national wall emergency, which Trump has vowed to veto. GOP lawmakers had desperately tried to avoid the intraparty clash and limit defections by cutting a deal with the president over reining in his future power, but Trump rejected the idea.

Behind the scenes: Trump delivered the message via a phone call to Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) during a Republican lunch on Wednesday, reports Burgess. Lee had introduced legislation that would end national emergencies after 30 days unless Congress votes in favor of it. Had Trump agreed to support the bill, more Republicans would have been comfortable backing his wall emergency. The resolution was also a hot topic of discussion during a two-hour lunch with Republicans at the White House that was supposed to be focused on trade.

What this means: Four Republicans had already said they would vote for the resolution, enough to put it over the finish line. But now even more GOP senators are expected to pile on and help pass the resolution, delivering an extraordinary rebuke to the president. Republicans are in a tough spot as they choose between defying the president or going on record supporting Trump's controversial use of executive action. More from Burgess, Eliana Johnson and Bres: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=aa24f907eabcab39d522e0556470fb3e9260a2f09f24f257e855896e100e0bfd16d9cc2ce560680680ce6a2559a4bebf

Related reads: "Senate rebuffs Trump with vote cutting off U.S. support in Yemen," via Andrew: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=aa24f907eabcab396d8716695de97ab3cdae3cb83769aa44732007b20f2b4b2ab86a304f96134b4fd82dab13ebe2da4d and "GOP's Tillis comes under pressure for taking on Trump," by The Hill's Scott Wong and Alexander Bolton: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e776624929f9c2afdb1ddce6ba2d5a334a27ab41aa892f46d71f42d0b3ae6fe384c592712b58fc44de6fe1185edf6ea6

ALL HAIL THE QUEEN -- Superstar freshmen have disrupted Washington. But if the first two months of Nancy Pelosi's speakership has proven anything, it's that she is still the queen. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her liberal allies have remained deferential to Pelosi, even as she's deliberately quashed impeachment talk and swatted down the Green New Deal. Same goes with the band of moderates, who came to office eager the buck the status quo on Capitol Hill but have largely fallen in line.

The speaker's tactics - a mix of Italian grandmother sensibilities and a "school mistress sternness" - have already steered Democrats through several historic votes, albeit with some notable schisms recently within their expansive caucus. "We're all constantly, like, 'Does she sleep at all? How does she do it with the high heels,'" joked Rep. Katie Hill, the freshman leadership representative. Heather and Sarah with the dispatch: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e776624929f9c2af02e9a48dc0fd8bd0911e2ee298d98b301af3d08c835242a72a926fac882f58603d9ba1e058cfd69a

Related: "Democrats upset over Omar seeking primary challenger," from The Hill's Reid Wilson: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e776624929f9c2afc27fcb02417a68354461757808b7c6759cf35fa02a3b6997a7ef56581e1311f198534297e4ae8676

IT'S ALMOST FRIDAY! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, March 14, where your host stayed up way past her bedtime last night for the Washington Press Club Foundation dinner (Check out the hilarious highlights down below.)

WEDNESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Roll Call's report on Democrats who have changed their tune on an impeachment vote was the big winner.

PLAYBOOK POOL: It's tournament time, which means it's time for the 3rd Annual Playbook Pool bracket challenge hosted by our Playbook authors across the country (DC, NY, NJ, MA, IL, FL, & CA)! Track who's up and who's down throughout the tournament as you compete against your friends, top Playbookers, political insiders and VIPs to win prizes including Amazon Echo, Series 3 Apple iWatch, iPhoneXR and more. Create your bracket starting on Selection Sunday (March 17) after the highly anticipated field of teams in this year's tournament are chosen. Click HERE to get in the game!

** A message from AARP: The big drug companies don't see us as people. They see us as profits. Americans pay the highest drug prices in the world while they rake in billions. We shouldn't have to choose between buying medication and buying food. Congress, stop the greed. Cut drug prices now. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e776624929f9c2af23788552d4ef2a50e3ad41964b9175a95dd0fcb61063f8970d15f910bc1f22a04b11a585e4151bc4 **


HE SAID, HE SAID -- Former Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker appeared before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday to clear up his public testimony before the panel last month. But how it went depends on who you ask. Nadler made a number of claims to reporters about Whitaker's comments, most notably any conversations he might have had about the Southern District of New York investigation into Michael Cohen. Lawyers for the Republican side of the committee who were in the room with Whitaker dispute Nadler's characterizations and provided what they said was more context for Whitaker's claims. More from Andrew: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e776624929f9c2afe79d303b4ed89ef406c4ed17dcc6d17027c710a5b244c11dee203decfbf2ba72edf95b8c53eae330

Related: "Cummings: No action against Cohen for pardon statement," by Rebecca Morin: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e776624929f9c2af765ce9d25b720e14d6626004528de8a963971b66d8827af34f578aea664f662ee0e16fa62af5bfd3

BORN TO RUN -- Beto O'Rourke is officially running for president, the former Texas Congressman announced this morning. The young, charismatic Democrat enters the crowded 2020 field as a top-tier contender and powerful fundraising force. But O'Rourke, who launched a failed Senate bid last year, has acknowledged that being a white male could be a vulnerability for him in the primary race. "The government at all levels is overly represented by white men ... That's part of the problem, and I'm a white man," he said in a Vanity Fair profile. "I think it's just so important that those who would comprise my team looked like this country... It's the only way I know to meet that challenge." The
glossy VF spread (and don't miss the pics of his dog): http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e776624929f9c2af8a00ef0e5052d00d407916626b2a04bc6bc4cfbc5b1ce8acdbec33b232fa7ebd036de2f13943fd74

Related: "Swing-state senators become 2020 kingmakers," by James Arkin and Daniel Strauss: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e776624929f9c2af027a7bf33f37276cbd6795c4a4e247d3105bf0064cb7a01c1f1b7b7a66a7d8d98b2930844a680085

COMMITTEE CHECK-IN -- The R Street Institute is out with a new report that sheds light on congressional committees. Some of the most notable findings: the House Energy and Commerce Committee employs the most former lobbyists, the House Financial Services committee has the highest average salary and the House and Senate Appropriations committees have the staffers with the longest tenure. When it comes to gender, there is still a major imbalance: only five of the 38 committees could be considered "nearly balanced" in 2017. Full report here: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e901da04be8f25bded4cbcee53c8b2be62c1d97fc237b651cc3cb463b4e9520b3a64b625e9846efe2ecaf7fa79139125

CRENSHAW CRUSHED IT -- Freshman Rep. Dan Crenshaw clearly learned a thing or two from his appearance on SNL last year. The Texas Republican headlined last night's Washington Press Club Foundation dinner, where he did an impression of Trump comparing himself to "Tim apple", read from an emo version of "Beto's diary", called journalism "cool again" and ribbed his Republican colleague Rep. Matt Gaetz for wanting to be the "GOP AOC."

Other hits: House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) cracked a wonky joke about "motions to recommit" that got a big reaction in the room, because #thistown.

And some misses: Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) fumbled her way through a few of her jokes, but she was a good sport and even poked some fun at herself for it. "Go have a drink and come back," she said one point. "Thank you for live tweeting all my bad jokes!"

***Ben White will once again bring POLITICO's Morning Money newsletter to the Milken Institute Global Conference from April 28 through May 2. The special edition newsletter will detail conference highlights, major conversations, evening festivities and VIP gatherings throughout the conference. Sign up today to receive exclusive, in-depth coverage from the scene of #MIGlobal.***
TRANSITIONS
Paige Rusher is now press secretary for Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC). She was previously press secretary for Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.).

Megan Thompson is now a senior policy adviser for Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.). She previously was a legislative assistant for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).
TODAY IN CONGRESS
The House gavels in at 9 a.m., with first and last votes expected between 10 and 11 a.m. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e901da04be8f25bd2014661951bad96d4e122351af7dbb024c1dd60a5c000d43f56d5a5f93479ba8128aedf9bc9f8e48 The Senate meets at 10 a.m. to consider H.J. Res. 46.
AROUND THE HILL
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) hold a news conference on a paid sick leave bill, the "Healthy Families Act," at 9 a.m. on the House Triangle.

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) hold a press conference on the Green New Deal at 10 a.m. in HVC Studio A.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) holds her weekly press conference at 10:45 a.m. in HVC Studio A.

The Friends of Ireland Luncheon takes place at 12 p.m. in the Rayburn Room.

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) holds a press conference on anti-Semitism at 3 p.m. on the House Triangle.
TRIVIA
WEDNESDAY'S WINNER -- Frank McDougall correctly guessed that the term "OK" made its way into the vernacular thanks to President Martin Van Buren, who was nicknamed Old Kinderhook and used the slogan "Vote for OK."

TODAY'S QUESTION -- From Frank: Who holds the record for a 32 year gap in Congressional service? First person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way: [email protected].

GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning.

** A message from AARP: There's no question about it: The big drug companies' profits are soaring while too many Americans are struggling to make ends meet. As we continue to pay the highest prescription drug prices in the world, drug companies continue to pocket billions of dollars. They can afford to spend nearly $175 million for lobbying, and more than $6 billion for advertising, and yet we're supposed to believe they can't find a way to lower prices? Americans shouldn't have to choose between buying medication and buying food for our families. It's time for Congress to step up and put people before profits. Stop the greed. Cut drug prices now.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=e776624929f9c2af23788552d4ef2a50e3ad41964b9175a95dd0fcb61063f8970d15f910bc1f22a04b11a585e4151bc4 **

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