In The News
Biden tried an ice-then-court strategy with House Dems. It worked.
by Jennifer Haberkorn, Adam Cancryn, and Nicholas Wu
For 11 days this spring, President Joe Biden iced out his Democratic allies as he negotiated with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy over raising the nation’s debt limit. With Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries at the table, Biden was convinced the talks had grown too unwieldy. The White House wanted to narrow the conversation, leaving other Democrats to steam. Progressives openly criticized Biden. Allies, such as Congressional Black Caucus … Continue Reading
May 31, 2023
A break-glass option, gumbo and a bike ride: How the debt ceiling deal got done
by Peter Nicholas, Mike Memoli, Katherine Doyle, Monica Alba, Sahil Kapur and Scott Wong
Right up until the end, the White House was exploring contingency plans in case the high-stakes talks with Republicans to raise the debt ceiling and avert economic disaster collapsed. The White House was considering the unprecedented step of bypassing Congress altogether and invoking the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which states that “the validity of the public debt … shall not be questioned.” President Joe Biden worried that there wasn’t enough time for … Continue Reading
May 31, 2023
A Washington surprise: Centrists push back against fringes in debt deal
by Toluse Olorunnipa
For weeks, conservative Republicans warned House Speaker Kevin McCarthy not to back down from sweeping spending cuts, saying anything else would be an unforgivable betrayal. Liberals implored President Biden to abandon the debt ceiling talks altogether, insisting the Constitution enabled him to simply ignore Republican demands. But in the end, the two leaders opted for a middle-of-the-road settlement, aiming to coalesce center-right and center-left lawmakers around the idea that an imperfect … Continue Reading
May 30, 2023
Debt limit deal clears key hurdle; more land mines await
by David Lerman and Lindsey McPherson
Bipartisan legislation to suspend the debt limit until after the 2024 elections cleared its first critical hurdle Tuesday night, when the House Rules Committee backed the terms for floor debate that is scheduled for Wednesday. Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and President Joe Biden, who negotiated the package, appear likely to have the votes to pass the measure, despite rising anger from the GOP majority’s hard-right flank and some concerns on the left as well. First, party leaders … Continue Reading
May 29, 2023
Biden, McCarthy Work Lawmakers to Pass Deal as Time Runs Short
by Jennifer Jacobs, Erik Wasson, and Billy House
The White House and Republican congressional leaders geared up lobbying campaigns to win approval of a deal to avert a US default as environmentalists, defense hawks and conservative hard-liners condemned concessions. President Joe Biden is personally calling lawmakers to support this bill, while cabinet members and senior White House staff already had called at least 60 House Democrats by early Monday morning, a Democratic official said. “I never say I’m confident about … Continue Reading
May 29, 2023
Biden, McCarthy Work Lawmakers to Pass Deal as Time Runs Short
by Jennifer Jacobs, Erik Wasson, and Billy House
The White House and Republican congressional leaders geared up lobbying campaigns to win approval of a deal to avert a US default as environmentalists, defense hawks and conservative hard-liners condemned concessions. President Joe Biden is personally calling lawmakers to support this bill, while cabinet members and senior White House staff already had called at least 60 House Democrats by early Monday morning, a Democratic official said. “I never say I’m confident about … Continue Reading
May 29, 2023
Kevin McCarthy May Need Democrats to Save Debt Deal From Republicans
by Andrew Stanton
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's plan to raise the federal debt ceiling may need Democratic support to pass a key committee. McCarthy, a California Republican, and President Joe Biden announced a tentative dealover the weekend to raise the $31.5 trillion debt limit for two years while also cutting federal spending. They announced the deal just days before the United States is set to default on its commitments—which experts say would have devastating impacts to the global economy, giving … Continue Reading
May 29, 2023
White House to Dems: The debt deal could have been a LOT worse
by Jennifer Haberkorn, Holly Otterbein, and Adam Cancryn
The White House has a simple message to Democrats skeptical of the debt ceiling agreement the president cut with Speaker Kevin McCarthy: Don’t judge us by what’s included but what we kept out. Top administration officials began fanning out late Saturday evening and all through Sunday to sell the deal, which would suspend the debt ceiling through January of 2025, limit federal spending through the same period, and make changes to government social welfare programs. The calls with … Continue Reading
May 16, 2022
House Dems Have a Mod Squad. Do Voters Have Any Idea?
by A.B. Stoddard
As a daunting November election comes into focus, and the collapse of Build Back Better is disappearing from the rear-view mirror, Democrats are debating how to use their time before likely losing unified control of the federal government. Progressives want President Biden to abandon the legislative process altogether, while another group of House Democrats is urging him to deliver on a campaign promise - to pass as many bipartisan bills as possible. Still clinging to their … Continue Reading
July 26, 2021
Brownfield Ag News: Axne and Bustos to Co-Chair Rural Reinvestment Task Force
by Mark Dorencamp
Two Midwestern Congresswomen have been named chairs of the New Democrat Coalition Rural Reinvestment Taskforce. Cindy Axne of Iowa and Cheri Bustos of Illinois will lead the group, which aims to develop and advance policy solutions that support Rural America. Axne says the task force will ensure rural communities have a seat at the table in Congress, focusing on a wide range of issues like broadband, healthcare, and the impacts of a changing climate. Bustos says rural areas are in need of … Continue Reading
July 26, 2021
Bloomberg Goverment: What to Know in Washington
by Zachary Sherwood and Brandon Lee
Senators negotiating a $579 billion infrastructure package are aiming to finish negotiations early this week, under pressure from colleagues to salvage an August recess and to allow the Senate to turn to preventing a government shutdown and debt ceiling default in the fall. A pending five-week break scheduled to begin Aug. 9 is motivating the 22-member bipartisan group to end dickering over relatively minor components of their plan after Republicans spurned Senate Majority Leader Chuck … Continue Reading
May 03, 2021
ICYMI – NDC Chair DelBene: It’s Time to Take Child Poverty Seriously and Make the Child Tax Credit Permanent via The American Independent
In case you missed it: New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) penned an op-ed in The American Independent calling for the permanent expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC). A one-year expansion was included in the American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law in March: "A one-year version of our proposal was included in the American Rescue Plan. That's because the New Democrat Coalition, a group of 94 forward-thinking Democrats that I lead in the House, endorsed the … Continue Reading
April 09, 2021
ICYMI: NDC Vice Chair Ami Bera Joins PPI Podcast to Discuss Health Care During Public Health Week
In case you missed it: In honor of National Public Health Week, New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Vice Chair for Outreach Ami Bera M.D. joined the Progressive Policy Institute's (PPI) Radically Pragmatic Podcast. Rep. Bera, a practicing physician, discussed the critical funding provisions in the American Rescue Plan and the state of health care after the COVID-19 pandemic with PPI's Director of Health Care, Arielle Kane. The NDC, which has long advocated for driving down the costs of health care … Continue Reading
March 26, 2021
ICYMI: NDC Launches Immigration Task Force, Announces Endorsement of Two Key Immigration Reform Bills
In case you missed it: The New Democrat Coalition (NDC) launched its Immigration Task Force co-chaired by Reps. Salud Carbajal (CA-24) and Greg Stanton (AZ-09). In its first action of the 117th Congress, the NDC Immigration Task Force Co-Chairs along with NDC Leadership Representative Kathy Manning (NC-06) announced the Coalition's endorsement of two key immigration reform bills: H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, and H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. The NDC … Continue Reading
March 17, 2021
Santa Maria Sun: Carbajal Co-Chairs the Recently Launched New Dem Immigration Task Force
by Karen Garcia
The New Democrat Coalition made up of more than 100 Democratic legislators who are committed to pro-economic growth, pro-innovation, and fiscally responsible policies, virtually launched the New Dem Immigration Task Force on March 11. The task force, co-chaired by U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara), is a commitment to building a fair and inclusive immigration system that reflects "American values as a nation of immigrants." U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton (D-Arizona) hosted the virtual … Continue Reading
March 12, 2021
Santa Barbara News-Press: Task Force, Carbajal Endorse Immigration Reform
by Grayce McCormick
The New Democrat Coalition Task Force, which is co-chaired by U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, held a Zoom press conference Thursday to endorse two new immigration reform bills reintroduced to the U.S. House of Representatives. The Dream and Promise Act of 2021 would: grant Dreamers conditional permanent resident status for 10 years if they meet certain requirements such as being 18 years old or younger when they entered; grant individuals who have had temporary protected status or … Continue Reading
March 12, 2021
Santa Barbara Independent: Carbajal, New Dems Coalition Endorse Immigration Reform
by Delaney Smith
Democrat Salud Carbajal, Santa Barbara’s representative in Congress, endorsed two pieces of immigration reform legislation Thursday. Carbajal endorsed the bills as co-chair of the New Democrat Coalition Task Force, a group of 94 Democrats who are committed to pro-economic growth, pro-innovation, and fiscally responsible policies. Carbajal’s coalition endorsed the Dream and Promise Act, which will provide a path to citizenship for DACA recipients, and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, … Continue Reading
March 03, 2021
ICYMI: NDC Chair DelBene, NDC Rep. Strickland Join NewDEAL Leaders to Discuss COVID-19 Relief for Communities
New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and NDC Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) joined New DEAL Leaders Mayor Cassie Franklin (Everett, WA), Senator Marko Liias (Majority Floor Leader, D-Lynnwood), and NewDEAL Communications and Policy Director, Jonathon Dworkin, to discuss the NDC's role in advancing critical state, local, and tribal funding in the American Rescue Plan to support the local and national response to COVID-19. NDC Chair DelBene addressed the urgent need to pass … Continue Reading
February 05, 2021
ICYMI: NDC Chair Suzan DelBene Joins PPI Podcast with President Will Marshall
New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) joined Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) President Will Marshall's podcast to discuss her leadership of the Coalition, the NDC's 100 Day Agenda, and the urgent need to pass relief for the American people. NDC Chair DelBene spoke on the NDC's 100 Day Agenda: "We recently released our 100 Day Agenda and put four key pillars in place that are driving our work. One is ending the pandemic and getting people back to work. One is modernizing … Continue Reading
January 29, 2021
ICYMI: Politico Morning Trade: New Dems' Trade Agenda
by Steven Overly
The New Democrat Coalition (NDC) released its First 100 Day Agenda to take actionable steps to end the pandemic, create jobs, and solve the challenges of the 21st century. The NDC will fight for durable progress on our nation's most pressing issues, including ending the pandemic, spurring equitable economic growth and opportunities, tackling climate change, modernizing our infrastructure, protecting and expanding affordable health care, restoring global leadership, defending our democracy, and … Continue Reading