FREEDOM CAUCUS STIFFS HOUSE GOP ON DUES – Burr’s race stokes panic in Republicans – SCHUMER, ADELSON RAMP UP CASH INFUSIONS – Lawmakers hope for spending bill deal– WELLS FARGO CEO FACES SENATE SHELLING TODAY Presented by

By Heather Caygle ([email protected] or @heatherscope)

With assistance from Burgess Everett

SHOW ME THE MONEY— House Republicans have a money problem heading into the final weeks of the campaign and it's partly driven by the House Freedom Caucus. A bloc of conservatives is refusing to transfer cash to the National Republican Congressional Committee, convinced the committee is favoring moderate candidates over GOP hardliners. But they’re not alone—several sources estimate that 3 in 10 House Republicans, including members in tough races that aren’t in the Freedom Caucus, aren’t current on their dues, Rachael Bade and I report.

Hurt feelings: “There’s a group that’s still smarting from the fact some of our own went after us, and we’ll be damned if we’re going to put money back in their hands,” said Rep. Mick Mulvaney, a Freedom Caucus member.

Where things stand: While the NRCC has about $2.5 million more cash on hand than the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, House Democrats outraised Republicans by more than $11 million combined in July and August. A big chunk of the disparity is attributable to members not paying dues, several Republican sources said.

Reporter’s notebook: “I do find it unbelievable that people that are conservative that have taken money from the committee to help them get elected don’t understand that they need to pay it back,” a former NRCC staffer told us. “It’s like political welfare. Mick Mulvaney should be ashamed of himself.”

PANIC IN THE LAND OF THE PINES—There’s heartburn brewing in North Carolina and it has nothing to do with the state’s famous barbecue. Republicans are worrying that North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr, known for his laid-back demeanor, isn’t campaigning aggressively enough against challenger Deborah Ross and “potentially risking a GOP seat that the party should otherwise have in the bag,” report Burgess Everett and Seung Min Kim.

Quote du jour: Sen. Lindsey Graham, a longtime friend, on ‘the Thing,’ Burr’s rust bucket on four tires: “The best way to describe Richard is to look at the car he drives,” Graham said. “He’s a workhorse, not a show horse. If you don’t believe me go look at his car. Which is a piece of crap.”

LET’S TALK CASH— Sen. Chuck Schumer is giving more money to Democrats in an effort to take back the Senate, with plans to transfer $1 million to Senate Democrats’ campaign arm today, adding to the $2 million he transferred to the DSCC earlier this month. “Altogether in September, Schumer has transferred $6.2 million of the $27 million he has on hand to help Democratic hopefuls,” Burgess and Bres report.

And across the aisle— GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson is pouring at least $45 million into the election for Donald Trump and down-ballot Republicans. “The billionaire on Tuesday will disclose having given $20 million to the Senate Leadership Fund…A check of a similar size is expected to go to the Congressional Leadership Fund, a similar super PAC focused on the House of Representatives. …And to back Trump, a donation of at least $5 million is likely headed to the political operation helmed by the Ricketts family,” according to CNN’s Theodore Schleifer.

WELCOME TO TUESDAY, SEPT. 20. You’re reading POLITICO’s Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill.

TODAY IN CONGRESS— The House meets at 12 p.m. with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m. The Senate gavels in at 10 a.m. with a procedural vote on the short-term spending bill planned for 2:15 p.m.



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AROUND THE HILL— House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer holds his weekly pen and pad at 10:30 a.m. in H-144. Sen. Lindsey Graham discusses military assistance to Israel at 11:30 a.m. in S-325. Sen. Richard Blumenthal holds a 2:30 p.m. press conference on the 9/11 victims bill (JASTA) in the Senate swamp. House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul holds a press conference on the counterterrorism strategy to defeat ISIS at 3 p.m. in HVC Studio A.

COULD A SPENDING BILL DEAL COME TODAY? That’s the hope at least, especially if lawmakers want get out of town by the end of the week. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell moved a key procedural vote on the bill to this afternoon after lawmakers remained at odds over a handful of issues on Monday. While the impasse over Zika funding is largely resolved, negotiators were still butting heads Monday over internet domain oversight and disaster aid for Flint, Mich., and flood-ravaged Louisiana, report Seung Min and Burgess.

Unintended consequence: “President Obama is planning to veto a bill this week that would allow the families of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to sue Saudi Arabia for any role in the plot. If the Senate stays in town into next week, which seems likely, a veto override would seem in the offing,” reports the New York Times’ Jennifer Steinhauer.

WELLS FARGO CEO ON THE HILL—John Stumpf, the bank’s chief executive, will testify before the Senate Banking Committee this morning, answering questions about why Wells Fargo employees opened millions of unauthorized accounts, billing customers for fees they didn’t ask for, all to meet sales goals. Bloomberg’s Elizabeth Dexheimer and Laura Keller have a preview of today’s hearing.

SCOOP -- MORE ADS LINKING HECK TO TRUMP: SEIU/iAmerica Action is launching a $1 million ad campaign in the Nevada Senate race aimed at explicitly linking GOP Rep. Joe Heck to Donald Trump, officials said on Monday. The group, which is backing Democratic former Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, is beginning with a two-week radio ad on Spanish language radio in the state. Television ads will begin soon.

The spot dings Heck for voting against deferred deportation action on certain immigrants, entertaining changes in birthright citizenship and supporting Trump. “¿Hay alguna diferencia entre Joe Heck y Donald Trump? … Joe Heck y Trump son iguales en lo que es realmente importante para Nevada.” (Translation: Is there a difference between Joe Heck and Donald Trump? … Heck and Trump are the SAME on what truly matters most to Nevada.).

VIDEO DU JOUR—Retiring Reps. Reid Ribble and Scott Rigell (close friends and motorcycle buddies) sat down with Roll Call to reflect on their time together in Congress, enduring friendship and enthusiasm for Harleys. “Two or three days [after coming to Congress], I went and sat down next to him, reintroduced myself and said, ‘Do you have any idea what we’re doing?” Ribble said. “Coming in as new members who had never served in public office before, we had no clue what we were actually doing. But then we recognized that most of Congress doesn’t.”

GLOVES OFF DOWN IN ST. PETE— Incumbent Rep. David Jolly and challenger Charlie Crist (the former Florida governor) came to fight in Monday night’s face off, the first debate for the two, Charlie Frago writes for the Tampa Bay Times. “Jolly went after Crist again and again, repeating over and over that the longtime politician could not be trusted. Crist volleyed back. He asked for civility while portraying himself as a moderate and painting Jolly as a conservative Republican in a district that now leans Democratic.”

“When [Crist] said he admired Clinton for her honesty, the raucous crowd cackled and catcalled. Jolly heard a similar sentiment from the crowd when he said he still hadn't made up his mind about whether he would vote for GOP nominee Donald Trump.”

GOP SPENDS TO HELP BLUNT—Republicans are moving in to help Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt hang onto his seat, placing their first $270,000 ad buy in St. Louis and promising more to come, Burgess reports.

EVENT ALERT – REP. JOHN LEWIS AT PLAYBOOK COCKTAILS: Playbook authors Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman take Playbook live for a conversation around the opening of the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture with civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) Wednesday, September 21 – 5:30pm; The W Hotel. RSVP: here

SPOTTED-- Texas GOP Rep. Roger Williams in the restaurant at the Waldorf in New York, according to a Huddle tipster. Sen. Tim Scott was really excited to find apples at the grocery store—on his birthday, no less—according to Matt Fuller. And House Speaker Paul Ryan met with Ivanka Trump while in New York Monday, reports Shane Goldmacher.

MONDAY’S TRIVIA WINNER— Chris Armstrong was the first to guess that three presidents didn’t win their state of residence: James K. Polk (TN), Woodrow Wilson (NJ) and Richard Nixon (NY).

TODAY’S TRIVIA— Chris, a tax staffer on the Hill, brings us today’s question: Several future presidents have served on the House Ways and Means Committee, including Chairmen Polk, Fillmore, and McKinley. Who was the most recent president to have served on the Committee?

The first person to correctly answer gets a mention in tomorrow’s Huddle. Get at me: [email protected]

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