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11/27/2017 08:02 AM EDT


By Heather Caygle (hcaygle@politico.com or @heatherscope)

WELCOME BACK HUDDLE READERS! Congress returns from Thanksgiving break to what will likely be one of the busiest weeks on Capitol Hill this year. President Donald Trump will have lunch with members of the Senate Finance Committee today and meet with Senate Republicans on the Hill tomorrow as they try to pass their tax bill this week. Later Tuesday, Trump will huddle with congressional leaders to talk about a year-end funding deal. Meanwhile, sexual harassment allegations continue to roil Capitol Hill with Rep. John Conyers stepping down as House Judiciary ranking member and Sen. Al Franken returning to work after more than a week in hiding.

IT'S GO TIME FOR TAX REFORM - Senate Republicans are hoping to pass their tax bill later this week but GOP leaders are still scrambling behind the scenes to lock down the 50 votes needed, Seung Min and Bernie Becker report this morning. At least half a dozen senators have expressed concerns with the bill about everything from language dealing with small businesses to its impact on the deficit to efforts to repeal Obamacare's individual mandate.

Who to watch: Deficit hawks including Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), both retiring next year, have said they're worried the tax bill will be a budget buster. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) have both expressed concerns about the individual mandate language. And Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) are worried the proposal would disadvantage small businesses. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is also a wildcard in the tax debate.

Ch-ch-changes: GOP leaders are considering last-minute changes to the bill to appease wavering senators, particularly Johnson, Daines and Collins, Damian Paletta reports for the Washington Post. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d2f2978ff392e2e30e4bba0f7c298953a0c8418333901d42251bfea3fc6c269dfec6d0bb4d7560695c9aaead1ad19f56

But for all the hemming and hawing, Republicans privately think the need to head into the midterms with a major legislative achievement will trump everything else. "For every Republican senator, the fate of the party is in our hands, as well as that of the economy," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on CNN Sunday. SMK and Bernie with the current state of play: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d2f2978ff392e2e371ae70e3c3c8b16e079bb0fd1706818ccb2c58bd6a9819c4dbeca4758de387b7ac7a0cff7fc93112

CONYERS STEPS DOWN FROM JUDICIARY - Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) stepped down as top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee Sunday amid accusations he sexually harassed female staffers. Conyers reluctantly agreed to step down after days of behind-the-scenes maneuvering by Democratic leaders and key lawmakers in the Congressional Black Caucus. Pelosi publicly endorsed the move after being blasted by critics online for defending Conyers in a Meet the Press interview earlier in the day where she called him an "icon" who has "done a great deal to protect women."

What's next? The House will vote this week on a resolution requiring all members and staff to undergo anti-harassment training, Rachael reports. Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), the next most senior Democrat on the Judiciary Committee is widely assumed to be the active ranking member although allies for Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), another senior member, have been pushing her name forward. It's unclear whether Conyers stepping back from Judiciary is enough to quell the firestorm or if other Democrats will join Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.) in calling for him to resign. Kyle and yours truly with the latest: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d2f2978ff392e2e3d8b9e3de6a7ea074bdb4f66e4dc63102fbb9cf48872dc148b23833edac0513304b37c0f7e1cbcc0f

DON'T WORRY, I'M STILL WEARING MY THANKSGIVING STRETCHIES TOO. It's Monday, Nov. 27. Thanks for reading Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill.

Wondering what to do with all those Thanksgiving leftovers? Well, you could turn extra stuffing into a Belgian waffle like Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), who deemed the creation a "stuffle." "Omg, crunchy outside and creamy stuffing inside," she wrote on Instagram. See the pic: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d2f2978ff392e2e31fb0a51a1075de7bda8adaaed291dabd8353b23f02aeb715c29479b64b00b84210299055605139a3

WOMEN RULE WEEK! POLITICO is partnering with women-led businesses in the DC-metro area to offer a full week of exclusive perks in conjunction with the 5th annual Women Rule Summit! Join the fun at participating businesses during Women Rule Week (November 27 - December 1) for exclusive deals and tweet 5x using #WomenRule for a chance to win two free tickets to the Summit on December 5th!

FRANKEN RETURNS 'EMBARRASSED AND ASHAMED' - Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) returns to Capitol Hill today, breaking more than a week of silence after being accused of groping four women in separate incidents over the last decade. Speaking to a handful of Minnesota media outlets Sunday, Franken "said he feels 'embarrassed and ashamed' amid allegations that he groped several women," the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "I've been a champion for women, and I know this makes this all the harder," he said. "I know I'm not going to regain their trust immediately. Franken has agreed to cooperate with a Senate Ethics Investigation into his behavior. Jennifer Brooks with more:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d2f2978ff392e2e3ff6fb3c8b0d4df9781a14974a228ef8fbbcd827cda06b8460d3357bb460ead845beb0b22deb5c742

A DECEMBER TO REMEMBER - Congress is speeding towards a potential government shutdown next month as congressional leaders work behind the scenes on a deal to fund the government amid a looming Dec. 8 deadline. In addition to government funding, lawmakers are looking at a December deluge of must-address items, including hurricane disaster aid, renewing surveillance powers used by the NSA, funding for the children's health insurance program and the fight to find a legislative fix for Dreamers. To top it all off, the Alabama Senate race will be decided Dec. 12, Republicans continue to negotiate a tax code rewrite and Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) has promised to force a House floor vote on
impeaching Trump before Christmas. Seung Min sums it all up: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d2f2978ff392e2e313725fddcfed0a71ee29a9ffddf369851e990b6ded7bcad669c382d318bfe112bd137fe595d66ee0

Related: Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) want to see a Dreamer fix attached to a year-end spending bill. "For the DREAM Act, I think you could get strong border security and a break in chain migration. If you could put those three things together, put it on the end-of-the-year spending bill, that would be a heck of an accomplishment for 2017," Graham said on CNN Sunday. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d2f2978ff392e2e3bf441587e074cebedaf52e27ae0562b3ef31811261b1e89e7062e3428d0df76e5e63085a804e5338

MOORE WILL BE A 'DISTRACTION' - Senate Republicans are still calling on Roy Moore to step aside, even as Trump has refused to spurn him and spent Sunday dissing Democratic candidate Doug Jones in a pair of tweets. "I would like to see the president ... come out and support what many of us have said," Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), No. 3 in leadership, said on Fox News Sunday. "It's going to be a distraction for us and our agenda if Moore wins," Thune added. "I want to be on the side of right when history writes this story," Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said on ABC's "This Week," repeating his call for Moore to drop out of the race.

The president's refusal to distance himself from Moore and public questioning of Moore's accusers has reignited tensions with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has privately pleaded with Trump to abandon the candidate and try to save the seat, the New York Times reports. "McConnell and his allies have been particularly infuriated as Mr. Trump has reacted with indifference to a series of ideas they have floated to try to block Mr. Moore." Jonathan Martin, Maggie Haberman and Alex Burns: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d2f2978ff392e2e37f9eb78f8422c85ab448fdf592a560e0a56da2c2846c929cd7a08ccb6d86750afb2023e42fc9b561


** A message from UNITE HERE: Donald Trump's selected candidate to head the Department of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, is a drug company industry profiteer whose senior role with Eli Lilly during periods of criminal practices and prescription drug price gouging is disqualifying. Learn more about why members of the Senate must #SayNoToAzar. www.saynotoazar.org **

WHAT'S NEXT FOR JOE BARTON? Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) apologized last week after an explicit photo and message he sent to a former girlfriend surfaced online. In his hometown of Ennis, "the latest revelation has residents shaking their heads - some in disbelief, others in disgust," Anna Tinsley reports for the Star-Telegram. "'There's not a single person in Ennis who can throw a stone,' said one woman dining at Bailey's Restaurant ... At the same time, she did say she was surprised by the nude photo. 'Everybody has been talking about this,' she said. 'We can't believe it. Why would anybody do that in this day and time?'" Barton had previously announced he would run for re-election next
year. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d2f2978ff392e2e3910720a9cac2d60fb6f718946be35ee1589d077e5206c1ccf626f4a68868e317523b541913f9b769

THE ANNOUNCEMENT VIDEO ARMS RACE - With so many Democrats lining up to challenge House Republicans next year, campaigns are putting their focus on crafting catchy and compelling announcement videos, which can make or break a candidate in a crowded primary field. "Announcement videos are far from new, but they've taken on added urgency now as candidates vie for scarce money, staff, and attention from national groups, the kind of resources that are usually essential to a winning campaign," Alex Roarty writes for McClatchy. "It's the exception rather than the rule that these videos work," said Ian Russell, former DCCC political director. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d2f2978ff392e2e3cabbcc354f5f818120520fb03763be6eded392e18fe01b021cc49bacf47e48f05dc604377fb64a86

OH REALLY? "John Thune has so much campaign money socked away that he now makes more from interest and dividends than some other politicians collect from donors," Seth Tupper reports for the Rapid City Journal. "His Friends of John Thune campaign committee held $11.37 million at the end of September ... An undisclosed portion of the committee's money is invested in securities. During the July-through-September quarterly reporting period, the securities generated $151,129.72 of interest and dividends for Thune, who does not face re-election until 2022." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=d2f2978ff392e2e377d21f3b78303aa9cfa9d590209663ebcb5eb3c7ac6dd54b91fa7e48910e8cd4e2c7f106c0d8454e

ARRIVAL LOUNGE - Kathryn McQuade has left her job as media affairs and events coordinator for the House GOP Conference. McQuade has a new gig as broadcast communications adviser for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

TODAY IN CONGRESS -The Senate gavels in at 4 p.m. with two roll call votes related to nominations at 5:30 p.m. More info: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3acaf2612ff14a3c788fde3f6707bdef7e744003a05bb2bcd52884a905c88a9e7b6b77db4ca2a95750948e8b10c4dd4f The House will return Tuesday.

AROUND THE HILL - The Capitol Christmas tree arrives this morning at 10 a.m. in Garfield Circle.

LAST WEEK'S TRIVIA - Jennifer Tiller was first to guess that President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a resolution in 1941 designating Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November.

TODAY'S TRIVIA - What is the tallest Christmas tree the Capitol has ever had, what year was it and where did it come from? The first person to correctly answer gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way: hcaygle@politico.com.

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** A message from UNITE HERE: We've all heard President Trump repeatedly speak about a need to bring drug prices "way down." And 77% of Americans agree that prescription drug costs are unreasonable. Trump also has gone on record saying that drug companies are "getting away with murder" - a point 73% of Americans agree with, saying drug companies make too much profit. Yet, Trump recently nominated drug company executive Alex Azar to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Azar's appointment would contradict Trump's pledge to "drain the swamp" and change Washington D.C.'s pay-to-play atmosphere, where a revolving door shifts federal regulators to high-ranking corporate execs, and
back into government positions. Alex Azar's past as a pharma profiteer disqualifies him from DHHS. To learn more about Azar the Price Gouging Czar, check out this website, including a white paper examining his time at Eli Lilly. www.saynotoazar.org **

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