Samantha Handler
@sn_handler
covering policy @PunchbowlNews | packers shareholder | DM for signal
Passing the Senate’s approps bills would achieve what Dems say they want — a bipartisan appropriations process. And the Senate bills call for more spending than the House GOP-drafted bills. But top Dems are casting doubt on the notion of helping Republicans pass any of them,…
Senate to vote this week on first of 12 government funding bills, possibly packaged with others. Will Dems go along amid threats to tank bipartisan approps post-rescissions? “As of now, it’s hard to see a path there,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said punchbowl.news/article/senate…
TOP of @PunchbowlNews AM: THE BROKEN SPENDING PROCESS -- AND WHY A SHUTDOWN IS ON THE TABLE House Republicans will leave for August recess having passed just two spending bills. by this time last year, House GOP had passed five. HFC calling for full-year CR. Dems arent in…
News: Rep. Mike Flood was unanimously elected as next chair of Main Street Caucus tonight at their internal meeting, per a source familiar.
New: The Energy and Commerce Committee will mark up NIL legislation on Wednesday. This is the first full committee markup of the package. Big step for the bipartisan bill that three GOP committee chairs are pushing.
Top Dem on Approps, Patty Murray, indicates she will vote to move forward with the MilCon-VA bill tomorrow. “I will let you know my strategy tomorrow, but I expect to, yeah”
News: This vote — a procedural vote on one of the 12 appropriations bills — will occur tomorrow, I’m told. Could still be packaged with others. Will be up to Dems to decide if this advances. Needs 60
Thune on his approps strategy: “There are ways we can package some of the bills together, and I hope we can do that, but that would take consent.”
New details on Main Street Caucus’s role in advancing Trump’s border agenda in @PunchbowlNews Midday Rep. Bice will attend ELC tonight on she’ll outline her immigration bill The White House is supporting her and has been coordinating with GOP leadership, per a source familiar.
Just caught up with Hakeem Jeffries and asked the Dem leader how realistic it was for House Dems to gain more seats in redistricting, as he previewed on CNN recently. “I will have more to say about this in the next few days,” Jeffries said
Latest from The Portal: The toughest approps bills have been saved for last, what we’re watching this week, get ready for bipartisan Farm Bill talks and more. @sn_handler with details: punchbowl.news/archive/copy-o…
Top Senate Approps Dem Patty Murray responds to Capito, saying there’s more federal education funds that haven’t been released. Calls for rest to be released.
BIG NEWS! @RussVought45 just informed me that the @usedgov is releasing crucial funds to states that support after school and summer education programs. This is in direct response to a letter I led my @SenateGOP colleagues on earlier this week! More information on the letter…
OMB released the funds after most of the moderate signatories voted for $9 billion in rescissions
BIG NEWS! @RussVought45 just informed me that the @usedgov is releasing crucial funds to states that support after school and summer education programs. This is in direct response to a letter I led my @SenateGOP colleagues on earlier this week! More information on the letter…
NEW: House Republicans want to bring back hardline border bill H.R.2 as they seek to codify Trump's immigration and border security policies. But some vulnerable members aren't excited about this and are seeking more forgiving solutions on immigration and amnesty. More:
House Republicans are considering reviving their tough border crackdown bill — aiming to lock in Trump-era policies and toughen immigration enforcement. But growing pushback from moderates could reshape the fight. @MicaSoellnerDC has the details: punchbowl.news/article/house/…
Senate Democrats face a key test next week as Majority Leader John Thune tees up a bipartisan funding bill vote that could tell us a lot about the likelihood of a government shutdown. More from @AndrewDesiderio —punchbowl.news/article/senate…
House preparing to hold 11 votes, including $9B rescission package & FY2026 Defense bill. Dems are pushing for a no vote on a procedural vote. This would allow them to offer an amendment calling for release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
HOUSE RULES is over. They have passed the rule. Remember: They will not vote directly on the rescissions package. it will be considered passed when they pass the rule.
Thune tees up the first FY 2026 appropriations bill —
Leader Thune filed cloture on the motion to proceed to Cal. #121, H.R.3944, MilCon/VA Appropriations Act, 2026.
“We’re getting that done,” Johnson said on the rescissions Rules hearing.
Rules committee member Michelle Fischbach just went into a side room off the floor with Speaker Mike Johnson
Schumer slams Vought & says Trump should fire him. When asked how Dems will handle approps bills on floor — which could come as soon as next week — Schumer said: “Ask the Republicans. Ask them where they are at about these horrible comments… Ask Thune: Should Vought be fired?”