Republicans are VERY angry about Schiff’s decision to reference that CBS “head on a pike” report. Murkowski says “that’s where he lost me.” Barrasso says “whatever gains he may have made, he lost all of it — plus some — tonight.”
Several senators in the room shook their heads, audibly said “that’s not true.” Ernst and McSally — two of those swing states Schiff has been talking about! — were visibly upset as they whispered about it after.
Chris Murphy pushes back: “it's just ridiculous to think that these republicans are going to make a decision on impeachment based upon anybody saying something which they feel to be mean.”
@shearm with the full Murkowski quote: “I have not been told that my head is on a pike,” she said. “I thought he did fine until he overreached.”
For all of our observations about shuffling, leaving and restlessness— I think that was the most reaction we’ve seen from Republicans toward any of the remarks from the managers.
Now Schumer on MSNBC weighs in, calling it “a diversion.”
"They can't argue on the merits, and so the typical Republican thing to do, and now more than ever with all the pressure on them -we all know there's pressure on them - is to find diversions.”
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Manchin says he will release his permitting reform bill tomorrow, ahead of a CR vote next week.
"I've never seen stranger bedfellows than Bernie Sanders and the extreme liberal left siding with Republican leadership," he says, calling it "revenge politics" after his IRA vote.
"Take me out of it — it shouldn't be revenge," he concludes. "That's going to be hard to go home and explain, that we did this and you voted against this because of Joe Manchin."
Manchin says the difference between the bill Capito put out (backed by Rs) and his legislation is that his plan will not bypass environmental reviews. Calls the Capito bill a "messaging bill" that doesn't have the votes.
The Portman amendment just passed, as Joe Manchin joined with all Republicans in passing an amendment that would keep $300 UI through July.
Dem aide says once their agreement is scored, that will supersede this.
Senate is now voting on a Collins amendment, which appears to substitute in a $650 billion target plan — likely an updated version of what Republicans proposed at the WH last month.
Collins amendment fails 48-51. Up next is an amendment from Tim Scott that would restrict funding for state strike teams for resident and employee safety in nursing facilities unless states report on COVID deaths. (Ron Wyden calls it "punitive.")
Ron Wyden tells me in interview Dems are coalescing around a possible UI change: $300 a week through October 4, but with tax forgiveness on 2020 UI benefits up to $10,200. (Usual in flux caveats apply.)
"You don't have an August cliff, which was a concern of all Democrats, and you have tax forgiveness," Wyden told me. "You had to be able to drill clearly into a couple of key features that kept all Democrats in line with what we've heard them talking about as their priorities."
Wyden is now on the Senate floor talking about this: "I think we've made a lot of headway, we'll have more to discuss....I'm really hoping this brings all sides of the Senate together."
Lisa Murkowski told @burgessev and me that she has no plans to leave the Republican Party, telling us that she "absolutely no desire to move over to the Democrat side of the aisle — I can't be somebody that I'm not." 1/
"As kind of disjointed as things may be on the Republican side, there is no way you could talk to me into going over to the other side — that's not who I am, that's not who I will ever be.” She confirmed that she did not vote for Donald Trump, and instead wrote someone in. 2/
I asked her what role she sees herself playing as the Republican Party tries to figure out its identity. “One that is not afraid to be in the middle, even if there's not a lot of people there that are with me, recognizing the scope and breadth of the Republican Party." Story TK