Welcome to Wednesday, October 2nd, vowels and consonants...

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is accusing House Democrats of "an attempt to intimidate, bully, and treat improperly" State Department officials subpoenaed in the Trump-Ukraine investigation.

Pompeo sent a letter to the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, claiming the Democrats' investigation raises "significant legal and procedural concerns" and that the requested deposition dates are "not feasible."

“I am concerned with aspects of your request,” Pompeo wrote to Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), chairman of the panel. “I will not tolerate such tactics, and I will use all means at my disposal to prevent and expose any attempts to intimidate the dedicated professionals whom I am proud to lead and serve alongside.”

Pompeo's blistering response came a day after it was revealed that he was among those listening in on Trump's July 25 phone call with Ukraine President Vladomyr Zelensky that triggered the impeachment inquiry.

Should the State Dept. employees be deposed?

On the Radar

Congress's Q3 in Review

The third quarter of 2019 drew to a close Monday, and with lawmakers home for a two-week “district work period," now is as good a time as any to look back at what Congress worked on the last three months, and what will be on the agenda when they return.

We have a full report-card here, but here's a peek:

ACCOMPLISHED

Bipartisan Budget & Avoiding a Shutdown: After reaching an agreement with the White House, Congress passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 to outline spending levels for FY2020 and FY2021, including increased spending on defense and domestic programs.

9/11 Victim Compensation Fund: The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund was permanently reauthorized and fully funded by broad bipartisan majorities in each chamber, and signed into law by President Trump.

BLOCKED / FAILED

House Democrats’ Partisan Bills: House Democrats passed several bills that are unlikely to be considered in the Senate given Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) vow to block partisan bills. In Q3, House Democrats sent over bills to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2024; block energy development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, off the Florida coast, and off the Atlantic & Pacific coasts; invalidate forced arbitration agreements; and prop up insolvent multiemployer pension plans.

Halting Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia & the UAE: After both chambers of Congress voted to block arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over their actions fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, President Trump vetoed those bills to allow the arms sales and Congress was unable to override the vetoes.

How do you feel about the last three months in Congress?

Under the Radar

College Athletes Endorsement Income

At a signing ceremony hosted by NBA star LeBron James on Monday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed into law the Fair Pay to Play Act (SB 206) ― which would require college athletes at California universities to be allowed to earn income off their name, image, and likeness beginning in 2023.

The law threatens to upend the college sports landscape by negating the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) ban on student-athletes earning income through endorsements. The NCAA previously urged Newsom not to sign the “unconstitutional” bill, and said on Monday that “a patchwork of different laws from different states will make unattainable the goal of providing a fair and level playing field for 1,100 campuses and nearly half a million student-athletes nationwide.”

The Pacific-12 Conference counts four major California universities among its members (Cal, Stanford, UCLA, and USC) and said the bill “will have very significant negative consequences for our student-athletes and broader universities in California."

Should college athletes be able to earn endorsement income?

What You're Saying

Here's how you're answering Should the Labor Dept. Test a Federal Jobs Guarantee in 15 Communities for 3 Years?