By Scott Wong (swong@politico.com or @scottwongDC)
THE DAY AHEAD – Vice President Joe Biden is rallying the troops this morning at House Democrats’ annual issues conference at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay in Cambridge, Md. President Obama takes over the microphone at 10:40 a.m., then flies to Fresno, Calif., with Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and Rep. Jim Costa to discuss his administration’s response to the drought.
OBAMA TO VOW MILLIONS IN AID FOR DROUGHT – Roger Runningen reports for Bloomberg: “U.S. President Barack Obama is offering millions of dollars in aid and other assistance to California farmers, ranchers and communities beset by one of the worst droughts in the state’s history. The federal help will be detailed today by Obama when he’s joined by California Governor Jerry Brown in Fresno, in the state’s fertile Central Valley. The drought is forcing farmers there to leave idle thousands of acres of fields in the state that supplies almost half of the nation’s fruits and vegetables. It has also left 17 rural towns so low on drinking water that the state may need to start trucking in supplies. …
– “The administration plans to accelerate distribution of as much as $ 100 million in aid to ranchers to help feed livestock and offer compensation for losses. The Agriculture Department is also making available $ 15 million in conservation aid for the worst drought regions in California and five other drought-stricken states to reduce wind erosion on damaged fields and improve livestock access to water. The White House said $ 60 million has been made available to California food banks for families affected by the drought, and plans are under way to establish 600 summer meal sites in hard-hit regions this summer.” http://bloom.bg/1iVnlf0
– The president will also ask Congress to create a $ 1 billion “Climate Resiliency Fund” in his budget request next month, reports our own Alex Guillen. http://politi.co/1gfoEVC
FEDERAL OFFICES will open two hours late this morning as the Washington, D.C., region digs out from a second wave of snow in as many nights. OPM: http://1.usa.gov/1bw9GbZ
NOBODY DOES ALERTMAGEDDON LIKE D.C., writes the Wall Street Journal’s Elizabeth Williamson: “Finally, Washington had a blizzard worthy of seven days of storm tracking, closures, cancellations and widespread hoarding. Nobody does snow-related Alertmageddon like D.C. The capital city, with its legions of warm-weather transplants and a workforce largely inexperienced in manual labor, approaches every forecast of snow, no matter how sketchy, with an orgy of meteorological modeling, thousands of words of commentary and a run on the dairy section. Hurricanes, by comparison, don’t get much attention. …
– “The House moved up its vote on increasing the nation’s debt ceiling—legislation responsible for three years of controversy—from Wednesday to Tuesday because of the potential for snow. On Wednesday, the Senate quickly passed the debt ceiling bill, as legislators tweeted their intent to blow town. Also canceled: Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen’s appearance before the Senate Banking Committee, hearings on the minimum wage and Food and Drug Administration drug approvals … Finally, the whole federal government shut down, followed by the city government, followed by most of the White House.” http://on.wsj.com/1lNU4UP
PROGRAMMING NOTE – There will be no Huddle on Monday due to the Presidents’ Day holiday. My able colleagues Ginger Gibson and Seung Min Kim will be filling in for the remainder of the week. Send them your news tips and trivia questions at ggibson@politico.com and skim@politico.com.
MOVE OVER eHARMONY … The Democratic-aligned Americans United for Change is having some fun with Valentine’s Day this year. The group is out with a mock online dating site with a profile video for ‘Minny Mumwage,’ who says she would love nothing more than getting a date with Speaker Boehner on the House floor, as she depressingly hasn’t been on one since 2009. See it here at www.CongressMingle.com. Watch the video here: http://youtu.be/ACvigtaTevo
D.C.’S VALENTINE TO ITSELF: BELTWAY CELEBRATES ‘HOUSE OF CARDS’ – Andrea Drusch reports for POLITICO: “D.C. is in love this Valentine’s Day — with itself. Netflix released the second season of its original series House of Cards on Friday, and media and politicos can’t wait to settle into thirteen straight hours of a show that centers on the very industry in which they work and live every day. Whether they’re planning to power through the whole season in a single night or space it out over the coming weeks, the show’s loyal fans can’t stop talking about the next chapter for D.C.’s shadow cast. ‘It’s a fun escape from what day-to-day life on the Hill is actually like,’ said Alex Conant, press secretary for Sen. Marco Rubio, in an interview. He plans to dive into the show right away. ‘It makes politics in Washington appear even worse than it is, which is a feat.’
– “Conant was among many to take to Twitter on Wednesday night encouraging Netflix to release the series a day early when the federal government was closed for bad weather. While it might seem ironic for people working in politics and journalism to ‘escape’ to a show about, well, politics and journalism, Conant isn’t alone in the sentiment. … ‘I hope to be totally entertained, to completely dragged out of my world and into a fantasy of what goes on Capitol Hill,’ said Fox News host Greta Van Susteren in an interview, of her expectations for the new season.” http://politi.co/1jgkHQL
AND WATCH REAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS do their best Frank Underwood impressions here in this video by NowThis News. Cameos by Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.), Rep. Jim Clyburn (R-S.C.), Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.). http://nowth.is/NFoUU0
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GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, FEB. 14, 2014, and welcome to The Huddle, your-play-play preview of all the action on Capitol Hill. Send tips, suggestions, comments, complaints and corrections to swong@politico.com. If you don’t already, please follow me on Twitter @scottwongDC.
My new followers include @lizmargolis and @CesarConda.
TODAY IN CONGRESS – Both the House and Senate have adjourned through next week for the Presidents’ Day holiday. House Democrats wrap up their annual conference today in Cambridge, Md., with visits from Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama.
THE WSJ EDITORIAL BOARD is calling Sen. Ted Cruz “The Minority Maker” for forcing Republicans to break his filibuster on the debt-ceiling bill: “We’re all for holding politicians accountable with votes on substantive issues, but Mr. Cruz knew he couldn’t stop a debt increase the House had already passed. He also had no alternative strategy if the bill had failed, other than to shut down the government again, take public attention away from ObamaCare, and make Republicans even more unpopular. Democrats beat the odds and retained their Senate majority in 2010 and 2012 in part because they stuck together. If Republicans fail again this November, a big reason will be their rump kamikaze caucus.” http://on.wsj.com/LYTBSg
COMCAST READIES FOR WAR IN WASHINGTON – Tony Romm and Anna Palmer report for the hometown paper: “Cable giant Comcast started the day with a call to arms, hosting its lobbyists and consultants, along with Time Warner Cable’s, on a private conference call to begin building a strategy to beat back threats in Washington that could jeopardize its $ 45 billion merger. Comcast’s top congressional lobbyist Melissa Maxfield ran the call, laying out the company’s Washington outreach strategy for its in-house government affairs team and for its hired guns. Consultants for Comcast and Time Warner Cable were sent the press release announcing the merger and talking points to use on Capitol Hill and at federal agencies.
– “K-Streeters also began reaching out to Capitol Hill and agency staffers to report back on how the merger proposal was being received, according to sources familiar with the strategy. … The activity lays the groundwork for what’s shaping up to be an aggressive campaign by Comcast to sell the Time Warner Cable deal in Washington. Sources familiar with the company said they expect Comcast to try to sway lawmakers, community organizations, agencies and other groups in advance of public hearings most observers expect will be scheduled in the coming months.” http://politi.co/1buJy3W
HASTINGS NOT SEEKING REELECTION – Mike Faulk reports for the Yakima (Wash.) Herald-Republic: “In a decision that surprised some, longtime U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings said Thursday he’ll retire at the end of the year after 20 years in Congress representing the 4th Congressional District. ‘It’s been a great privilege,’ said Hastings, a Pasco Republican, in an interview with the Yakima Herald-Republic. Retirement has been on his mind for several years, said Hastings, 73, adding that his family — wife Claire, three adult children and eight grandchildren — influenced his decision. ‘It’s been 20 years. I have to say that my family played a big part of (the decision).’ … Hastings, a small businessman before he entered politics full time, was first elected in 1994 when he defeated then-Rep. Jay Inslee of Selah, now Washington’s governor. Over time, his seat became one of the safest in the country as he handily defeated Democratic challengers and never faced a serious threat from far-right elements of the Republican Party.” http://bit.ly/1kH2ejL
– SPEAKER BOEHNER: “For nearly two decades, Doc Hastings has served in the House with honor, humility and distinction. In addition to being a skilled legislator and leader, he’s the epitome of grace and class, and he’s a very dear friend. I’m grateful for Doc’s service to our institution and our nation, and for his friendship and support throughout our many years together in the House.”
FOR ISSA, RED MEAT = BIG MONEY – Paul Singer reports for USA Today: “As chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Darrell Issa is discovering a powerful political equation: red meat = money. At the close of 2013, the California Republican had raised more campaign money than nearly all of the other House committee chairmen, trailing only Budget Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, who was the party’s vice presidential nominee in 2012. According to FEC records, Issa’s campaign brought in $ 2.15 million in 2013, while Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., brought in $ 2.05 million and Financial Services Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, and Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster, R-Pa., both brought in $ 2.08 million. Not the biggest war chests in the House – for example, Majority Leader Eric Cantor posted a $ 3.93 million haul for the non-election year – but robust totals. (None of this counts receipts of the members’ leadership PACs or related fundraising entities.).” http://usat.ly/1lNY5Zp
– Issa makes two stops in New Hampshire next week before heading back to California for more events, aides said: The Concord/Merrimack County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner (2/17) and the Committee to elect House Republicans (New Hampshire State House) Breakfast in Manchester (2/18).
WARNER’S FLEETING ‘SNOWBAMACARE’ TWEET – Tal Kopan writes for POLITICO: “Call it a snow-pas. Sen. Mark Warner’s office blamed a staff snow day ‘#fail’ for a deleted tweet Thursday morning that made a joke about the Virginia GOP and the winter storm that shut down Washington. ‘Just a matter of time: waiting for the @VA_GOP to claim this winter storm was caused by The Affordable Care Act. #Snowbamacare,’ the account tweeted, deleting it 26 seconds later, according to an archive of deleted tweets kept by the Sunlight Foundation. … Warner’s Senate account bio says tweets come from both the senator and staff. Warner’s communications director took responsibility for the errant tweet. ‘It was my mistake. I acknowledged it as quickly as possible, and I apologize,’ Kevin Hall said in an email to POLITICO.” http://politi.co/1buKpS5
THURSDAY’S TRIVIA WINNER – Jim Brewer was first to correctly answer that the Marquis De Lafayette, the French military officer, was the first foreign dignitary to address the House of Representatives in its chamber. http://1.usa.gov/1eVuvAO
TODAY’S TRIVIA – Claude Marx sends us into the long weekend with a follow-up to this week’s orchestra question: Name the president whose wife was the main founder of a major symphony orchestra? The first person to correctly answer gets a mention in the next day’s Huddle. Email me at swong@politico.com.
GET HUDDLE emailed to your Blackberry, iPhone or other mobile device each morning. Just enter your email address where it says “Sign Up.” http://www.politico.com/huddle/
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