The Hill’s 12:30 Report

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The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Congress clears funding bill | Sanders to address voter data controversy | Obama’s year-end presser

BREAKING – I’M (ALMOST NOT) JUST A BILL:  The House and Senate both overwhelmingly passed the combined $1.8T government funding and tax bills. It includes the first major change to ObamaCare that has been approved by Congress. What’s next: The bill now heads to President Obama’s desk to sign. Government shutdown averted! – at least until Sep. 2016. The Hill’s Cristina Marcos with the details on the House vote: http://bit.ly/1Oc4QzP and Alex Bolton on the Senate: http://bit.ly/1Zg1Kmg

2016-ERS: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) was the only presidential contender to miss the vote.  Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) voted against the bill; Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) voted for it.

Politico’s John Bresnahan: Cue “Ryan passes test” headlines http://bit.ly/1NBBRpG     

ABC’s John Santucci: Trump’s full statement to @ABC on today’s budget deal – says Congress “threw in the towel” http://bit.ly/1MlhcV9

Brendan Buck, comms adviser to Speaker Ryan
How bout them last two months around here. http://bit.ly/1TU5F4A

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.)
Washington cannot continue to promise everything to everyone without a plan to pay for it. #StandWithRand http://bit.ly/1QRi2zg

The Hill’s Scott Wong
.@RepBoustany [R-La.] votes YES, @RepFleming [R-La.] votes NO on omnibus #LASEN http://bit.ly/1lWGnZt

CONGRESS, OUT: In the House, lawmakers high-fived on the floor when the bill passed, and there were at least three standing ovations (including a tribute to Jo-Marie St. Martin, longtime counsel to former Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), on her last day.) This means the end-of-year business is over and lawmakers are headed home for the holidays. Here’s my best description of the vibes: http://on.fb.me/1Oc0Krr

It’s Friday, everyone! For all you Star Wars fans, you can turn your phone into a light saber to use on your computer — you can thank The Hill’s Sarah Ferris for that gem. I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of what you missed this morning, and what’s on tap for the rest of the day. Send your story ideas, comments and Christmas cheer to cmartel@digital-stage.thehill.com and @CateMartel.

CLINTON BE HUSTLIN’, HUSTLIN’: Via Politico’s Gabe Debenedetti, of the past 84 days, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has only campaigned 34 days, while Hillary Clinton has campaigned 55. Also, Sanders has campaigned in nine fewer states than Clinton — and it’s starting to worry some of his allies. http://politi.co/1ObSVSH

BERNIE CAMP SUSPENDED FROM DNC DATA: Via The Hill’s Tristan Lejeune, the Democratic National Committee is reportedly suspending access to Sen. Bernie Sanders’s (I-Vt.) campaign after at least one staffer accessed confidential information compiled by Hillary Clinton. Oopsies. The Sanders campaign will address the issue at 1 p.m. today. http://bit.ly/1NtlL3y 

TRUMP RIVALS CATCHING UP IN NH: Via The Hill’s Jesse Byrnes, Donald Trump is polling at 26 percent among likely GOP primary voters in New Hampshire. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) are tied at 12 percent apiece (!), followed by Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.), at 11 percent, and Jeb Bush, at 10 percent. But note: The poll was conducted Dec. 13-17. The last debate was right in the middle, on Dec. 15. http://bit.ly/1OAOJfE

NEW TODAY — BLOOMBERG RADIO IN DC: Bloomberg and CBS Radio announced that Bloomberg Radio is launching in Washington, D.C. You can listen to it on WNEW Radio 99.1. http://bloom.bg/1Iderdt

BUZZING ON SOCIAL: TRUMP FLAUNTS MUTUAL FANDOM OF PUTIN: Via The Hill’s Jesse Byrnes, Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough to Donald Trump: “Again, [Vladimir Putin] kills journalists that don’t agree with him.” “Well I think our country does plenty of killing also, Joe, so…” Trump responded. http://bit.ly/1Oc9o9l

TIME’s Ryan Teague Beckwith
Follow-up question: Which journalists would you have killed? http://bit.ly/1Pb215m

Former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney later tweeted: Important distinction: thug Putin kills journalists and opponents; our presidents kill terrorists and enemy combatants. http://bit.ly/22dJbSh

POT INDUSTRY GETS A BOOST: The $1.1 trillion funding bill gives a big boost to the pot industry. Why: The bill bans enforcing federal marijuana laws in states with legal medical use.The Hill’s Molly Hooper discussed the details with Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D), whose state has legalized marijuana. http://bit.ly/1IbYrZq

THINK YOU FEEL LIKE CATTLE WHEN BOARDING FLIGHTS NOW? Well, you just wait. Major airlines are introducing a “Last Class” option to compete with budget flights. http://read.bi/1YliYSm

 

TWITTER CATCH-UP:

The Washington Post’s Mike DeBonis (with photo of the massive bill)
The #omnibus has [literally] arrived in the Senate. http://bit.ly/1mrLbFS

NBC’s Luke Russert:
Never seen the clerk move so fast from House floor. That sucker was in the express lane right after gavel hit [with Christmas tree emoji] http://bit.ly/1NXlVlt

The Wall Street Journal’s Byron Tau
White House @PressSec says he “wouldn’t rule out” a Star Wars screening at the White House for President Obama. http://bit.ly/1Oz2LP3

The Center for Public Integrity’s Dave Levinthal
As far as @dccc fundraising emails go, this one is pretty funny http://bit.ly/1NAi8XB

Politico’s Seung Min Kim
I will miss @SenatorReid after he retires; no other senator gives these kinds of quotes http://bit.ly/1mbbPlZ

 

ON TAP:

1 p.m. EST: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is holding a press conference at his campaign’s Washington, D.C., office.

CNN’s Dan Merica: Sanders’ press conference will be to “answer questions about the situation involving the DNC,” aide says. http://bit.ly/1OcYK8L

1:50 p.m. EST: President Obama is holding his year-end press conference from the Brady Press Briefing Room. Expect Obama to face questions about his expectations for the final year of his presidency, his “non-traditional” upcoming State of the Union and terror threats over the holidays.

8 p.m. EST: Ben Carson holds a rally in Sioux City, Iowa.

7:55 p.m. PST: President Obama meets with the families of the San Bernardino attack victims.

1:30 p.m. EST tomorrow: Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) campaigns with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in Londonderry, N.H.

9:35 p.m. PST: President Obama and his family depart for Honolulu.

 

WHAT TO WATCH:

8 p.m. EST tomorrow: Hillary Clinton, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Martin O’Malley debate at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. — the Saturday night before Christmas. (?) Note: ABC News sent out a memo to reporters warning them to bundle up — the media filing center will be over a hockey rink.

 

Now for the fun stuff…

WHOA: You guys, Netflix has created socks that can tell when you’re falling asleep and automatically pause your show. We’re officially in the future. http://ti.me/1YliQT0

FOR ALL THE LUKES OUT THERE: Luke’s Lobster is giving away free lobster rolls today to anyone named Luke. But before you get too excited, you must show valid identification that Luke is, in fact, your legal name. http://bit.ly/1RrapRx

BRING BACK THE ’90s: Full House has released a trailer for their new show, “Fuller House.” Apparently it’s making people emotional, according to Twitter. http://eonli.ne/1QrOqtV

A NOTE RE: YESTERDAY’S STAR WARS PARAPHERNALIA: Yesterday, I included a link to Star Wars-themed Chewbacca fuzzy-lined Crocs (ugh.) http://bit.ly/1JedFYL I received a comment back from Politico’s Lindsay Monaghan: “Croc meets Ugg meets Hot Topic studded belt … makes me viscerally ill.”

Anyway, she’s a size 8 if anyone wants to surprise her with a pair. Hit me up for the address! 😉

Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

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