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03/12/2019 08:01 AM EDT

By MELANIE ZANONA (mzanona@politico.com; @MZanona)


With an assist from Sarah Ferris

PASSING ON IMPEACHMENT -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told The Washington Post that she is "not for impeachment" of President Donald Trump "unless there's something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan" - her strongest signal to date about her thinking on the matter. The comments reflect a growing sense among Democrats on Capitol Hill that the best way to kick Trump out of office is not through impeachment, which would die in the Senate and fire up the president's base, but through winning the 2020 presidential election.

Pelosi's hard-line stance, however, dropped like a bomb in the Capitol and divided Democrats. While some lawmakers acknowledge her position provides cover for the party's moderates, others argue that impeachment should be based solely on facts and evidence - not political considerations. "If the facts require us to initiate removing the president, we are obligated to do it. If the facts don't support it, we won't," said Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.).

Not surprisingly, Pelosi's comments roiled liberal activists, with billionaire Tom Steyer saying in a statement: "Is doing what's right 'worth it?' Or shall America just stop fighting for our principles and do what's politically convenient?" And Rep. Al Green (D-Texas), one of the most outspoken supporters of impeachment, will hold a press conference on the issue later today. Sarah and Andrew with the latest: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d6314312b4282d70a31d4fc7cb36b7af76380eeffe09287752107c80541fdb110f440bab8c6c9f3eae5ca33c88038213

Related reads: "House to vote on series of bills targeting Putin," via Andrew: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d6314312b4282d70e4cc33bbac9e83e31d1d8dee42a882864379ad266f3ff52986ee55fd92dd787e8cfbff4179e5c55a and "Whitaker to return to House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday," by CNN's Manu Raju and Jeremy Herb: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d6314312b4282d7021b985868c7320bc8032d3dcb4090911c3aebeb010693754fa4aa13932ec4a04587a64d905d5db83

GOP LEADERS CLASH -- House Republicans are experiencing their own divisions over a House-passed resolution to condemn hate speech. Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was upset last week that GOP Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney (Wyo.), along with 22 other Republicans, voted against the measure and stepped on the party's messaging, sources tell your Huddle host and Bres. But other members of McCarthy's leadership team were frustrated that there wasn't better communication about the GOP's strategy on the resolution, which was crafted by Democrats in response to remarks seen as anti-Semitic by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.).

The entire leadership team huddled for an hour in McCarthy's office Monday night to hash things out, and sources say cooler heads prevailed. But Cheney, a sophomore member who has quickly risen through the leadership ranks, has repeatedly shown she is willing to stand up for what she believes in - even if it means sometimes bucking her own party. Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d6314312b4282d7085cd24cb604175909104428a72b68b6b49fe56eef21464e202097445170e7a2fef602dc88a154904

In other Cheney news: "Dick Cheney grills Pence on Trump's foreign policy," by Eliana Johnson: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d6314312b4282d708257563840397b3ac29341aeaf1e11cfba728045680c8b93998d046121969a1c8deb9499a9dcc7ff

GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Tuesday, March 12, where your host is kicking herself for apparently missing out on International Napping Day (still waiting for the Capitol to install much-needed nap rooms.)

MONDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Alex Thompson and Daniel Strauss's exclusive report on Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand facing scrutiny for how her office handled a "Me Too" allegation was the big winner.

** 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=d6314312b4282d701a0865a3fd11dc600d86c6235e6956787c04fb563591082039117e93a06a3348b31cee3504b86a27 **


BYE BYE BUDGET -- House Democrats have a stacked policy agenda in the early months of the majority - but a budget resolution isn't on the list. Top Democrats privately want to ditch the budget this year, which many believe would be largely a waste of time without cooperation from the Senate. Skipping the budget vote would help Democrats avoid more ugly ideological battles within their own caucus, though it will surely provoke GOP ridicule after Democrats hammered Republicans for the same struggle when they had the majority.

An impossible balance? Several senior Democrats doubted the party's chances of drafting a budget that could attract support from all corners of the caucus, from Blue Dogs to progressives to ex-military officials - a practice that may have been the first real policy test of the Democratic majority. The scoop from Sarah and Heather: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d6314312b4282d70e869b4a1af6bbaf740829d8ad461a608bf63e543b590ddaabe54703c1e33eb42d315f1e87ba914de

Related: "Ocasio-Cortez says she isn't putting moderate Democrats in a tough spot. They disagree," by Eliza Collins of USA TODAY: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d6314312b4282d7051714ca325c98b7685cbf85ffcdb6337188faf77cd095311eb808795342656e23310f58c83e676bd

BEYOND THE WALL -- Senate Republicans are scrambling to avoid a public clash with Trump over his national wall emergency, report Burgess and Marianne. GOP lawmakers have launched a last-ditch effort to find a "compromise" with the president, in which Trump would support amending the National Emergencies Act in exchange for some wavering Republicans voting against a House-passed resolution to kill the emergency. Discussions were still ongoing as of Monday evening. If a deal isn't reached, as many as 12 Republicans may end up voting for the resolution, which would deliver a major and embarrassing rebuke to the president. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d6314312b4282d70d42aba2f13583166219630e13eede7860ec900a168671ac4383a72450d4aa387a71971727b2d95c0

Related: "Pelosi, McConnell to invite NATO's secretary-general to address Congress," from Jake Sherman: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d6314312b4282d70f78531c34af9b923ff7262e0826f5ab5d2496912343b57cc3197452c8672d859e798060bd5a00f3b

GROUND STOP -- Congress is calling for action following the deadly Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed all 157 passengers on board. The crash is the second fatal incident involving Boeing's new 737 MAX 8 jet in recent months. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) is demanding a hearing on the security of the aircraft model. And at least two senators - Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) - have called for the fleet to be grounded. The FAA, which is investigating the disaster, said in a statement that the airplane model is safe to fly, though pressure is expected to grow on both the agency and Boeing in the coming days. "If we identify an issue that affects safety, the
FAA will take immediate and appropriate action," the FAA said.

HAPPY B-DAY C-SPAN! -- Today marks the 40th anniversary of C-SPAN'S live gavel-to-gavel TV coverage of the U.S. Congress, which has given the public an unfiltered window into government for the past four decades. "While Washington may have changed, we haven't - our unblinking eye on Congress and public debate continues," the public TV network said. "The window is still open, giving the world a front-row-seat to democracy." Check out some of C-SPAN's greatest hits: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=529e820ae263c5193f275dd959863a269610d78a13c09679dafdfc4365eacb9c6b3b1d6392bea685f44164dc0e725913

***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
Lauren Fine is now communications director for House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.). She was previously press secretary for Scalise.
TODAY IN CONGRESS
The House gavels in at 10 a.m., with first votes expected at 2 p.m. Today's agenda: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=529e820ae263c519f49f236f6328d75ae937fab8dbece049c32e0e95d6755d0f166e1a039408fd1000ec3375d3820974 The Senate meets at 10 a.m. to resume consideration of Paul Matey to be U.S. circuit judge for the Third Circuit.
AROUND THE HILL
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Rep. Jesus Garcia (D-Ill.) hold a news conference on "Wells Fargo accountability and consumer abuses" at 8:30 a.m. on the House Triangle.

Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) holds a news conference on impeachment at 9 a.m. in 2347 Rayburn House Office Building.

The House Democratic Caucus will hold a closed-door meeting at 9 a.m. in HC-5.

The House GOP caucus will hold an off-campus meeting at 9 a.m. at the Capitol Hill Club.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and GOP leaders hold a stakeout at 10 a.m. in HC-8.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) and House Democrats hold a news conference to introduce H.R.6, the "Dream and Promise Act" to protect Dreamers and TPS recipients, at 10 a.m. in H-207.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Vice Chair Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) will hold a weekly press conference at 10:45 a.m. in HC-8.

Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) holds a news conference on preventing maternal deaths at 11 a.m. on the House Triangle.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) holds a pen and pad briefing with reporters at 11:30 a.m. in H-107.

Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) hold a news conference with women and children from the Independent Women's Forum to announce a paid parental leave proposal at 11:30 a.m. in SR-361A.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus holds a news conference on the DREAM Act at noon on the House Triangle.

Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) hold a news conference on "defunding military projects" to pay for the border wall at 12:15 p.m. in the Senate Radio/TV Gallery.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m. for the weekly party luncheons.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus holds a news conference after their weekly meeting at 1:15 p.m. in HVC Studio A.

Senate Foreign Relations Chairman James Risch (R-Idaho) and members of the committee will hold a brief pool spray ahead of their meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan at 1:45 p.m. in S-116.
TRIVIA
MONDAY'S WINNER -- Kirtan Mehta was the first to correctly guess that 16 former senators have become president, while only one president - Andrew Johnson - has gone on to become a senator.

TODAY'S QUESTION -- From Steve Scully: C-SPAN wasn't the first to televise from the House of Representatives. When was the first live television broadcast from the House Chamber? First person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way: mzanona@politico.com.

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=d6314312b4282d701a0865a3fd11dc600d86c6235e6956787c04fb563591082039117e93a06a3348b31cee3504b86a27 **

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