The Hill’s 12:30 Report

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The Hill’s 12:30 Report: GOP scraps plan to gut ethics watchdog | Opening Day for 115th Congress | Live coverage of Speaker vote | Ford cancels plan for Mexico plant | China’s giant Trump rooster

BREAKING ON CAPITOL HILL — ETHICS, SHMETHICS:  Before the new Congress had even formally gaveled in, House Republicans called for an emergency conference meeting (right before noon!) where they withdrew a proposal to gut an independent ethics watchdog in the House. http://bit.ly/2j53Fyn

BACK STORY — GOP PLAN: BUH BYE, ETHICS WATCHDOG!: House Republicans were moving to adopt a proposal weakening the outside ethics watchdog. What it would have done: The proposal barred the ethics office from considering anonymous tips about potential ethics violations. The catch: Critics said preventing anonymous tips could impede whistleblowers for fear of blowback. http://bit.ly/2j4rV43

STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL’S BACK — TROUBLE IN REPUBLICAN PARADISE: But this morning, President-elect Donald Trump criticized House Republicans over their plans to vote on weakening Congress’s independent ethics watchdog. He tweeted: “With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make the weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog, as unfair as it may be, their number one act and priority. Focus on tax reform, healthcare and so many other things of far greater importance!” http://bit.ly/2j0uqQy

CUE THE ‘PERSONAL FAMILY ANECDOTE’ TO EXPLAIN POLITICS: Before the decision to backtrack, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) had brushed aside comments that he and Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) look like “weak leaders” after a majority of Republicans initially ignored their advice and pressed ahead with a plan to gut an independent ethics office. At McCarthy’s house: “At my house, I got my wife and my two kids, and I usually don’t win what we watch on TV,” McCarthy explained. “The Speaker has set up a very open conference. We put a [rules] package together and people could offer amendments and people could have that debate.” http://bit.ly/2j4ZQcC

Bloomberg’s Steven Dennis: “The Senate, by the way, does not have an independent ethics office.” http://bit.ly/2hLQTQu

The Hill’s Ben Kamisar: “Working title for what I can only assume is Sean Spicer ‘s autobiography: “The Tweet Speaks for Itself.” Lol. http://bit.ly/2iLswnR

Welcome back! It’s Tuesday, everyone’s back from a well-deserved break and today is Opening Day on Capitol Hill! Can you smell the freshly pressed suits, new shoes and all that civic duty optimism?! Get your spiel ready for giving directions to the Capitol to all the lost new people. I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@digital-staging.thehill.com, @CateMartel and on Facebook.

BACK TO SCHOOL. BACK TO SCHOOL. TO PROVE TO MY (CONSTITUENTS) THAT I’M NOT A FOOL … OOOOH BACK TO SCHOOL.: …Billy Madison really did say it well. 😉 The 114th Congress adjourned today at 11 a.m., with the new Congress meeting at noon. Here’s the scene on Capitol Hill:

Back to school. Back to school.: Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) posted a “back to school” joke on Twitter. I appreciate it. http://bit.ly/2iEjwDA

New keys, new day: “Even new members of Congress have to pick up their keys before the first day.” (From CNN’s Betsy Klein) http://bit.ly/2ivaEQ3

New fraaands: Though many congressional Republicans tepidly embraced Trump during the campaign, they’re increasingly optimistic about working with him. Here’s the latest on that front: http://bit.ly/2iv34VE

Facial hair count: “Beard watch: Sen. Tom Cotton going strong, Sen. Ben Sasse clean shaven” (From Politico’s Burgess Everett) http://bit.ly/2j4M8Xe

Now or never: “Rep. Robert Dold (who lost re-election and won’t be in Congress in an hour) is presiding over the House. http://bit.ly/2j0FdKL

BREAKING — THE DANGLING FRUIT IN FRONT OF TRUMP: Ford is canceling plans to build a new manufacturing plant in Mexico and instead is investing $700 million in Michigan. The company’s CEO Mark Fields told CNN that the move is a “vote of confidence” in President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to create a pro-business environment. Fields emphasized, however, that he did not negotiate any special deal with Trump. “We didn’t cut a deal with Trump,” he said. “We did it for our business.” http://bit.ly/2j4UZZ4 

{mosads}

JUST NOW — U.S. POLICY BY 140 CHARACTERS: President-elect Donald Trump just tweeted: “There should be no further releases from Gitmo. These are extremely dangerous people and should not be allowed back onto the battlefield.” http://bit.ly/2iECqKH

IN MEDIA NEWS: Former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson has been named a columnist for Time magazine’s online “Motto” newsletter, writing about women and empowerment issues. The announcement was made while Carlson guest-hosted NBC’s “Today” this morning. Throwback: Carlson was at the center of a sexual harassment suit last summer that eventually forced out Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes. http://bit.ly/2ive6dy

THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS — THEY MIGHT AS WELL DISTRIBUTE 3D ELEPHANT HATS: Via The Hill’s Christina Marcos and Jordain Carney, lawmakers are returning to Capitol Hill today to prepare for the new Trump administration. Here’s what’s going on: http://bit.ly/2hOc0Vx

Election of the Speaker: The House will have a floor vote today to elect a new Speaker of the House. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is expected to easily win reelection. Live blog: http://bit.ly/2hND5Kb

Russia: This will be the first time Congress has been in session since the CIA made public its conclusion that Russia engaged in cyberattacks deliberately to undercut Hillary Clinton and help Donald Trump. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will hold a hearing Thursday.

ObamaCare repeal: The Senate is expected to start laying the groundwork this week for repealing the Affordable Care Act.

GOP cracks down on sit-ins: Remember how powerless the GOP was in June when Democrats held a sit-in on the House floor to push gun control legislation? Well, a draft proposal would fine lawmakers $500 (from their salaries!) for violating the prohibition on taking photos and videos on the floor — and $2,500 for subsequent offenses.

U.N.’s Israel vote: The House will vote Thursday on a resolution disapproving of the United Nations Security Council resolution criticizing Israel’s settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Many Democrats could join with Republicans to pass the measure as a means of demonstrating their support for Israel, even if their votes would put them at odds with President Obama. The U.S. refused to veto the Security Council resolution and instead abstained from the vote.

Regulatory reform: The House will take up two bills to scale back Obama administration regulations, which for once are likely to get a presidential signature come Jan. 20. 

REMINDER — TRUMP’S ON THE CLOCK: Over the weekend, President-elect Donald Trump declared that he knows “things that other people don’t know” about Russian hacking allegations. When asked what Trump knows that other people don’t know, Trump responded, “You’ll find out on Tuesday or Wednesday.” http://bit.ly/2iE9N01

 

NOTABLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

CNN’s Cassie Spodak on Instagram:
“199 House members have moved offices since Thanksgiving…” Photo: http://bit.ly/2j0oszk

C-SPAN’s Howard Mortman
Yesterday Kellyanne Conway took one of her daughters to work .. in Trump Tower http://bit.ly/2hM16Mw

CNN’s Betsy Klein on Instagram:
Representative-elect Jack Bergman (R-MI) chooses business cards and official stationery in his new House office. He made sure his new cards read “Representative,” not “Congressman.” “I’m here to represent the constituents, I’m not here to Congress them,” he said. Photo: http://bit.ly/2i6bDmI

 

ON TAP:

President-elect Donald Trump will hold meetings at Trump Tower in New York. Live-stream of Trump Tower lobby: http://cs.pn/2iv9sw5 President Obama is back in Washington. 

11 a.m. EST: The 114th Congress met for the last time and adjourned.

Noon: The 115th Congress met. It’s airing live on C-SPAN!

Noon: Vice President Biden conducts the Senate swearing-in ceremony. Note: After the official ceremony, new senators will participate in a reenactment of the swearing-in with their families and Biden in the old Senate chamber. Live-stream: http://bit.ly/2j0xLzi

Throwback: Here’s a CNN montage of Biden’s funniest moments swearing-in members. http://cnn.it/2hLIU5U

12:15 p.m. EST: House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) holds a pen-and-pad meeting with reporters. 

This afternoon: House members will vote to elect the Speaker of the House. Live-blog: http://bit.ly/2hND5Kb

1 p.m. EST: White House press secretary Josh Earnest delivers the daily press briefing. http://bit.ly/2i68bsC

3 p.m. EST: House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) holds the House swearing-in ceremony and takes photos with lawmakers’ families. http://cs.pn/2i6hnNC

9 a.m. EST tomorrow: President Obama meets with House and Senate Democrats in the Capitol Visitor Center auditorium to discuss a strategy to fight the ObamaCare repeal effort. http://bit.ly/2izcgGs

Noon tomorrow: American Petroleum Institute chief Jack Gerard speaks at his annual “State of the American Energy” event in Washington, D.C.

Jan. 10: President Obama gives a farewell speech in Chicago. The likely theme: Don’t butcher my legacy, please. http://nyti.ms/2i5YCtr

 

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF…:

Today is National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day!

THIS IS THE WEIRDEST, FUNNIEST STORY I’VE READ IN AWHILE: Via The New York Times’s Mike Ives, China is celebrating the Year of the Rooster with a 23-foot tall statue outside a shopping mall. Where things get weird: The giant rooster statue happens to look JUST like President-elect Donald Trump. The creator declined the comment on why the rooster was given Trump-like characteristics but he did tweet, “This was way more yuge than I expected.” What the what?? See for yourself: http://nyti.ms/2hLFAI9

And because you read this far, here’s what happens when you pour molten aluminum into an abandoned ant colony. Wow, it looks like a Disney movie set: http://bit.ly/2hOh0th

 

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