ICC sanctions bill exposes weak spot for Senate Dems
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) used a rare emergency meeting on Friday to make a plea for unity, but Democrats have a tactical problem he can't avoid.
Why it matters: Schumer can't guarantee the votes to give Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) the time and leverage to negotiate with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on the upcoming ICC sanctions bill.
- Democratic senators know they're stronger when they stick together, especially on procedural votes.
- But many senators have a greater interest in voting for GOP legislation that can help them win reelection in Trumpy states.
Zoom in: Democrats didn't resolve any of their short- or long-term strategic differences in Friday's 90-minute meeting, which Axios scooped was coming in Hill Leaders.
- After the meeting, senators were extremely reluctant to discuss the open rift in their party. They emerged stone-faced and weren't in the mood to talk.
- Staff weren't allowed to attend the strategy session.
Between the lines: Schumer approached the meeting with a message of kumbaya, according to a source briefed on the session.
- To give her room to negotiate, Shaheen needs Democrats to send a clear signal that they oppose the current version of the bill — and are prepared to vote it down.
- Shaheen is the ranking member on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Cotton introduced the ICC sanctions bill in the Senate.
But lawmakers emerged from the meeting without a clear strategy on how to approach the ICC measure, which has splintered progressives and moderates.
- Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) told Axios after the meeting "all I can tell you is that Jeanne Shaheen is in the middle of negotiations."
The bottom line: Schumer has a handful of moderates who are up for reelection next year, and they will face pressure to back some GOP legislation.
- Schumer allowed Democrats to vote their conscience on the Laken Riley Act, the GOP's first border crackdown bill of the new session.
- With a dozen Democratic votes for the procedural vote, Republicans passed the bill without any changes to the legislation.
