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PRESIDENT OBAMA TRIES TO RECONNECT WITH HILL: For several years now, the story has been the same: Democrats in Congress generally support the president but don't feel particularly tended to by the White House. Now President Obama is trying to reverse that as he eyes the Democratic minorities as his primary firewall against GOP legislation. "The remedial work has included frequent calls to Democratic leaders since the midterm elections and comes as Republicans prepare to take control of both chambers for the first time since Obama took office. While the president and GOP leaders have pledged to seek common ground, Obama's use of executive action to alter immigration enforcement procedures
and other steps have already angered Republicans, making significant legislative accomplishments more difficult." Washington Post:
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Bourbon summit: OK, we were told there wasn't any actual bourbon, but President Obama met with Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell yesterday afternoon -- but both the White House and McConnell's office declined to offer any details. McConnell spox Don Stewart gave the Post the classic "good meeting" readout.

I *GUESS* I'LL SIGN IT: So what happens if House Speaker John Boehner's plan to fund most of the government into September (save DHS) passes the House and the Senate? The White House isn't ruling out signing it, the dream team of Jake, Bres and Carrie Budoff Brown report. "The Obama administration wants full funding of the entire government through September, a position White House press secretary Josh Earnest detailed this week. But privately, administration officials view the House proposal as a fallback - as long as Republicans don't insert legislative language known as riders that restrict Obama's ability to implement the immigration plan.' I didn't walk out here with a veto threat,'
Earnest said at the White House briefing Wednesday.
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Right gaining traction, criticism: Yesterday Sen. Ted Cruz came out swinging against the House's plan, calling instead for a short-term continuing resolution that defunds President Obama's immigration action. He released a blistering statement, huddled with House conservatives and then helped lead a press conference calling for a harder line. Now, some Republicans are panning the plan advocated by Cruz and other conservatives. "The challenging thing is we're limited in the toolbox of how to show outrage without a shutdown," said Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), a close ally of Boehner who agrees with the speaker's plan. My story:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f6751f0f7b1cf5192545da8b555299ce86e4367dbb68c9f3711996a0b1073e2f
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f6751f0f7b1cf5192545da8b555299ce86e4367dbb68c9f3711996a0b1073e2f

And what of those conservative groups? Many Republicans are brushing them off this time around, reports Anna and Lauren.
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UP IN SMOKE? National Journal's Daniel Newhauser reports that the GOP is pushing for a rider in the omnibus that would ban the District from implementing its pot legalization law with local funds. "District of Columbia leaders and activists will be infuriated if Congress passes such a funding ban. Local authorities have little say in the matter, however: Congress is able to override local law because it has final say in how the District can spend its money ... Congressional Democrats, including Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski, are opposed to the marijuana rider ... but if Republicans make the proposal central to their demands, it remains uncertain how hard
Democrats will fight to keep it from becoming law."
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HOUSE PASSES TAX EXTENDERS -- The Hill: "The House on Wednesday passed a one-year renewal of more than 50 tax breaks that expired at the end of 2013, putting the measure on a path toward President Obama's desk. Passed 378-46, the measure would extend nearly all of the tax breaks until just the end of this year, at a cost of almost $42 billion ...a spokeswoman for Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) all but declared on Wednesday that the Senate would have to take the House bill, after House Republicans rejected what she called a 'reasonable, balanced deal' over the weekend."
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THE SENATE'S GAVEL BATTLE: The race between Alabama's own Jeff Sessions, a brash partisan brawler, and the mild-mannered Wyomite Mike Enzi will have critical implications for congressional Republicans as they head toward an election for Budget Committee chairman. Republican members of the Budget Committee are hiding behind a secret ballot voting process that allows anonymity and avoids a public food-fight -- and enraging conservative outsiders who are pushing for Sessions. Seung Min and I polled the entire committee, and just one member would tell us how he would vote. "I told Jeff I would be with Jeff. But I didn't know there was a seniority problem, I think that will matter to a lot of
people. but I didn't even know that Enzi was senior," Sen. Lindsey Graham said in an interview. "I feel bad in the sense that I [committed] before I knew what I was getting into."
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RULING THE DAY: Manu Raju reports that Senate Republicans are likely to keep Democrats' filibuster reform ahead of next week's GOP Senate caucus on the party's internal rules. "The change that Democrats made was 'long-term and permanent,' said Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), a member of his party's leadership. 'I think it's well within the traditions of the Senate for a majority to decide nominations and a supermajority to decide legislation.'"
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** Brand USA benefits all of America. Brand USA creates jobs by promoting international travel to all 50 states. America's tourism marketing program is highly effective and makes us more competitive - all at no cost to U.S. taxpayers. Renew the Travel Promotion Act, S. 2250.
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Brace for a climactic Thursday. And welcome to the Huddle, your play-by-play guide to everything Capitol Hill, where I am still smarting from the Terps' loss to U.Va. last night. Please send tips to
mailto:beverett@politico.com
beverett@politico.com and follow along on Twitter @burgessev.

TODAY IN CONGRESS - The Senate is in at 9:30 a.m. and will vote at 10 a.m. then 1:45 p.m. on some nominations -- and that looks like it for the week. The House is in at 9 a.m. and will consider the "Executive Amnesty Prevention Act" and the defense authorization deal announced yesterday.

AROUND THE HILL - At 10 a.m. Sens. Tom Udall and Ed Markey talk about the Wind Production Tax Credit in SVC 200. Also at 10 a.m. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and her leaders speak about immigration on the House Triangle. At 11:30 a.m. House Speaker Boehner holds an on-camera briefing in HVC Studio A. At about 12:45 p.m. Sen. Mark Kirk will host Gov. Elect Bruce Rauner and the congressional delegation for a lunch at SVC 115.At 1 p.m. Rep. Phil Roe speaks on IPAB on the House Triangle. Also at 1 p.m. Pelosi, Whip Steny Hoyer and Rep. Maxine Waters speak on TRIA in HVC Studio A.

OFF THE HILL: Former Sens. Tom Daschle and Trent Lott will be the guests at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast this morning.

ON THE FLOOR: Sen. Jay Rockefeller, the first member of Congress I EVER talked to, will give his farewell speech at 3 p.m. When I told Rockefeller yesterday that my first interview with a senator was with him a bit over three years ago, he laughed and cracked that I couldn't talk to any real senators at first so had to resort to someone so "low on the totem pole." To briefly set the scene: I got in an elevator with Rockefeller and the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg to ask if they expected a grilling at a Commerce Committee TSA hearing. "I'd assume so. That's what oversight hearings are for," Rockefeller quipped in a Rockefellian answer I've come to expect.

WEDNESDAY'S MOST CLICKED LINK: A photo of the Capitol Christmas Tree, because Huddle readers need more than just words.

NDAA DRAMA: The AP's Donna Cassata reports that the inclusion of federal land provisions on the defense bill is putting passage of the routinely passed authorization in jeopardy. "Quick passage of a sweeping defense policy bill hit a snag on Wednesday over public lands, dividing Senate Republicans. The $585 billion measure authorizing funds for the military includes several unrelated bills to expand wilderness areas in the West and expand the program streamlining oil and gas permits, a popular step with western state lawmakers. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., objected to their inclusion and promised to block any attempt to quickly finish the bill next week in the final days of the lame-duck
session."
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TALE OF TWO RYANS -- Paul Ryan lays it out: The incoming Ways and Means chairman tells Brian Faler and Jen Haberkorn that he's willing to tackle tax reform one step at a time, while keeping in mind his broad vision from his Budget days. "'If I was just so focused on just winning beauty contests, you think I would have had an agreement with [Sen.] Patty Murray?'" Ryan said, referring to his 2013 deal to avoid sequestration. "'I'm focused on getting things done, and I don't see that as in conflict with anything else that I may or may not do.'"
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Tim Ryan eyes Senate seat: Roll Call's Alexis Levinson scoops that Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan is taking a look at challenging GOP Sen. Rob Portman this cycle. "'We're certainly looking very closely at it," the Democrat told CQ Roll Call in a Wednesday phone interview ... 'I think the resources would be there,' he said, adding that he had been 'cultivating relationships around the country for the past couple of years.'"
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OUTRAGE BREWS: The decision by a grand jury not to indict a police officer in the death of Eric Garner on Staten Island sparked a wave of protests last night -- and a torrent of critical statements from Democrats, particularly after the Michael Brown decision last week. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called the two events "very troubling" and said he hopes there is agreement that "neither of these men deserved to die." CBC Chair Marcia Fudge concluded that: 'In the span of two weeks, this nation seems to have heard one message loud and clear: there will be no accountability for taking Black lives. As an American, it is growing increasingly difficult to believe that there is justice for
all."

NYers: New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand called the decision "shocking" and said "nobody unarmed should die on a New York City street corner for suspected low-level offenses" -- then called on the Justice Department to investigate. That investigation will be spearheaded by AG nominee Loretta Lynch, who Sen. Chuck Schumer predicted "will conduct a tough but fair investigation into the tragic death of Eric Garner."

AGREEMENT ACROSS THE AISLE (By just a few people): Wednesday marked a high point of frustration among the select few senators who are really, truly looking to authorize force against the Islamic State this year. Sen. Rand Paul introduced legislation declaring war on the Islamic State, concluding that "right now, this war is illegal until Congress acts pursuant to the Constitution and authorizes it." At basically the same time, Independent Sen. Angus King and Democrat Tim Kaine took to the floor to urge Congress to develop a military authorization. Kaine ended with a flourish: "Giving this president--giving any president--a greenlight to wage unilateral war for five or six months without any
meaningful debate or authorization would be deeply destructive of the legitimacy of the legislative branch of our government." Here's the text of Paul's resolution:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f6751f0f7b1cf519d8472fb3965edf198eca5adab862f2243b98d3f61c8d0c42
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COMING ATTRACTIONS: Sen. Elizabeth Warren will deliver a keynote address at Northeast Washington's own Gallaudet University for the AFL-CIO's National Summit on Wage on Jan. 7.

WEDNESDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER - Justin Beckley and Barry Scanlon were the first to answer that Rahm Emanuel sent a pollster a dead fish.

TODAY'S TRIVIA - Barry has today's question: As an homage to the Godfather-like move made by Rahm, what was the name of the fictional Senator corrupted by the Corleone family in Godfather II? The first person to correctly answer gets a mention in the next day's Huddle. Email me at
mailto:beverett@politico.com
beverett@politico.com

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** Brand USA benefits all of America. Brand USA creates jobs and economic benefits by promoting international travel to all 50 states. America's tourism marketing program is highly effective and makes us more competitive - all at no cost to U.S. taxpayers. It's time to reauthorize Brand USA (S. 2250) in the U.S. Senate and keep the power of travel promotion working for all of the U.S. Learn how in two minutes:
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