Tipsheet: Flush with momentum, GOP speeds toward tax votes

View in your browser     Flush with momentum, GOP speeds toward tax votes By Scott Wong   The final pieces of President Trump’s sweeping tax overhaul fell into place on Friday, giving Republicans a surge of momentum just days before they cast historic votes on the $1.5 trillion bill in the House and Senate. Heading into the weekend, GOP lawmakers and leadership aides were extremely bullish that the 503-page Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would pass the House on Tuesday, then narrowly clear the Senate either Tuesday evening or Wednesday. Read the full story here     Listen to the HillCast Power Politics: Gutiérrez says DACA fix may not come until 2018 By Alexis Simendinger and Rafael Bernal   Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.), a leading advocate in the House for passing a bipartisan solution this year for expiring immigration protections, says in an interview for The Hill’s “Power Politics” podcast that action in Congress may have to wait until 2018. Listen to The Hill's podcast here     Exclusive: Prominent lawyer sought donor cash for two Trump accusers By John Solomon and Alison Spann A well-known women’s rights lawyer sought to arrange compensation from donors and tabloid media outlets for women who made or considered making sexual misconduct allegations against Donald Trump during the final months of the 2016 presidential race, according to documents and interviews. Read the full story here     Roy Moore fundraising for 'election integrity fund' ahead of election certification By Josh Delk Roy Moore's campaign announced Friday that it is seeking donations for an "election integrity fund" following the former judge's unsuccessful bid for an Alabama Senate seat. Read the full story here       Tax measure retains financing tool for infrastructure By Melanie Zanona The final GOP tax bill unveiled Friday evening would retain a popular infrastructure financing tool that had been eliminated in an earlier version of the legislation, delivering a big win for transportation advocates who lobbied hard for the provision. Read the full story here     Watchdog: DOJ didn't consult us before releasing FBI agent's texts By Max Greenwood The Justice Department's inspector general was not consulted before the agency released an FBI agent's text messages to the media, the office said Friday. Read the full story here     CDC banned from using 'evidence-based' and 'science-based' on official documents By Avery Anapol The Trump administration has reportedly banned the Centers for Disease Control from using the phrases “evidence-based” and “science-based” on official documents. Read the full story here     GOP senator who grilled Trump judicial nominee: ‘I don’t wanna see him suffer’ By Jesse Byrnes Sen. John Kennedy said Friday that he hopes the White House withdraws one of its judicial nominees after the Louisiana Republican grilled him at a hearing this week. Read the full story here     Will Omarosa land a book deal? By Judy Kurtz Outgoing Trump aide Omarosa Manigault Newman could already be fielding offers for a book deal — as one publisher says when it comes to White House tell-alls, “Everybody wants it.” Read the full story here     Schumer promises a Senate vote on overturning FCC's net neutrality repeal By Harper Neidig Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Friday that he intends to force a vote on a bill that would preserve Obama-era net neutrality rules, which the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decided to repeal this week. Read the full story here     Tillerson’s disappearing offer to North Korea: Even talks are risky By Pamela Falk OPINION | In U.S. policy, as with the United Nations Security Council, there are two tracks: One of pressure and another of negotiations in trying to deal with North Korea. Read the full story here     President Trump's speech at the FBI Academy was reckless By James Gagliano OPINION | Some of President Trump’s words Friday before FBI graduates were reckless and if acted upon by the infinitesimal amount of the law enforcement population who are criminals and misinterpret the suggestive language, could result in police brutality.  Read the full story here     The Associated Press: ‘This is happening’: GOP revels in all-but-certain tax deal By Stephen Ohlemacher and Marcy Gordon Republicans working to execute their first major legislative achievement of Donald Trump’s presidency appear to have secured the votes to pass a massive tax overhaul that Trump hoped to present to the American people for Christmas. Read the full story here     The Wall Street Journal: Simplicity was a main goal of tax reform. For millions, it’s not happening By Laura Saunders The elusive dream of tax simplicity. Read the full story here     The New York Times: Omarosa Manigault Newman, leaving the White House, suggests the show will go on By Katie Rogers and Maggie Haberman Every must-watch television show needs two ingredients to survive its first season: a believable villain and a nail-biter of a cliffhanger. Omarosa Manigault Newman, a veteran of “The Apprentice,” President Trump’s former boardroom-high jinx reality show competition, has delivered both production-perfect elements to the Trump White House. Read the full story here     The Boston Globe: Black conservatives reel after Omarosa resigns By Astead W. Herndon and Annie Linskey   When the White House senior staff convened Friday for a regular briefing, there was not one black person among the roughly 30 people gathered, and few minorities overall.  Read the full story here     The Washington Post: Trump’s push to fill courts with conservative judges hits first speed bump By John Wagner, Robert O'Harrow Jr. and Karoun Demirjian    President Trump’s aggressive push to fill scores of federal court vacancies with conservative judges hit severe turbulence this week, as he was forced to withdraw two nominees and an embarrassing video went viral showing a third struggling to answer rudimentary questions about the law. Read the full story here         Did a friend forward you this email? 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