The Hill’s 12:30 Report

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The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Mike Lee drops leadership bid | Obama sending more troops to Iraq | GOP ObamaCare plan on the horizon? | SCOTUS hears Obama’s immigration plan | Lawmaker’s ‘ISIS hunting permit’

To view online –> http://bit.ly/1VdMFm4

BREAKING THIS MORNING — MIKE LEE BACKS OFF: Via The Hill’s Alex Bolton, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) is dropping his bid to run for leadership after the election. Back story: Lee stirred up a storm last week when he announced he would run for Republican Policy Committee Chairman John Barrasso‘s (R-Wyo.) post, arguing members of the GOP leadership needed to stop down because of term limits. Leadership said “haayyl no”: Leadership quickly circled its wagons to beat back the challenge, and many in the conference agreed Barrasso as well Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Thune (R-S.D.) and Vice Chairman Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) should be allowed to serve until the end of 2018. http://bit.ly/23SDJ7b

It’s Monday and today is Tax Day, Patriots Day — and the Boston Marathon is also happening today! 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 comments, story ideas and upcoming events to cmartel@digital-release.thehill.com, @CateMartel and on Facebook.

NEW THIS MORNING — U.S. TO SEND 200 MORE TROOPS AGAINST ISIS: President Obama will send 217 more troops to Iraq, including additional special operations forces, to help Iraq fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said this morning. http://bit.ly/1qBHNu6

{mosads}WELL NOW THIS IS GETTING PROACTIVE: Via The Hill’s Sarah Ferris, a group of senior House Republicans is promising to deliver proof that the party is making headway in its six-year struggle to replace ObamaCare. Timeline: House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said to give them a month or so for a Republican alternative to ObamaCare. But wait: Speaker Paul Ryan‘s (R-Wis.) office told The Hill a bill won’t be voted on until after the convention. http://bit.ly/1U269sI

INTERESTING ANECDOTE: When first asked about the House’s prospects of replacing the law on Friday, Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) pretended to hide his face behind a banister in the Capitol building to avoid the question.

THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS: BUDGET, PUERTO RICO: Via The Hill’s Cristina Marcos and Jordain Carney, House Republicans will try to chart a path forward on legislation to help resolve Puerto Rico’s debt crisis, while the Senate plows ahead with its first 2017 spending bill despite the budget impasse across the Capitol. Other issues this week:

• Tax Day: The House is expected to consider a slate of bills aimed at the IRS to mark the deadline for Americans to file their tax returns. 
• Energy/Flint: The Senate is reviving a long-stalled energy reform bill, though a separate package on aid for the Flint, Mich., drinking water crisis remains stuck. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) locked in votes on amendments, and the underlying bill, last week. 
• FAA: Senators will also wrap up consideration of a long-term reauthorization of Federal Aviation Administration programs this week. Final vote is expected to be Wednesday. 
• Recruiting women for science fields: Today, the House will work on a measure to prioritize increasing the number of women and minorities in science, technology, engineering and math. http://bit.ly/1SUNnyD

TODAY — WHAT TO KNOW IN THE IMMIGRATION CASE: Via The Hill’s Lydia Wheeler and Mike Lillis, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today in a blockbuster case that threatens to kill the executive actions President Obama took in 2014 to save nearly 5 million illegal immigrants from deportation. Here’s what to know:

1. Before the Supreme Court can rule on the merits of the case, it must first decide if Texas had a legitimate basis to bring the case forward to begin with.

2. House Republicans will have 15 of the 90 minutes reserved for arguments to fight for the president’s programs to be struck down.

3. One of the questions the Supreme Court is being asked to decide is whether President Obama should have followed the notice-and-comment requirements of the Administrative Procedures Act.

4. Court watchers say either Justice Anthony Kennedy or Chief Justice John Roberts could swing to the left in this case and side with the administration. 

5. The court’s decision will also have enormous implications for President Obama’s domestic policy legacy. 

6. However the court rules, the decision is sure to animate the already intense, and very partisan, fight over immigration reform on the presidential trail that could prove crucial to the outcome of the race. http://bit.ly/20QyYcE

SCOOP — LET’S ACTUALLY CHECK THE FACTS: Via The Hill’s Jonathan Easley, contrary to media reports, the unbound delegates in Louisiana insist they are not with Ted Cruz. Back story: Donald Trump had threatened to sue over not getting the delegates in Louisiana who were formerly pledged for Marco Rubio. Here’s the real story: http://bit.ly/1W41NBq

WELL THIS IS TERRIFYING: Via DCist, a fire broke out on the tracks of the D.C. Metro in Rosslyn. Yes, the cause of the fire was the same as the deadly smoke incident last year. And no, this has not been a splendid year for their PR. http://bit.ly/1SgtN07

 

NOTABLE TWEETS:

The White House’s Pete Sousa

President Obama with [White House Communications Director Jen] Psaki daughter Vivi http://bit.ly/1Spyji7

The Daily Beast’s Olivia Messer

Shaq, on what he’d do if he owned The Daily Beast. I love this quote so, so much. http://bit.ly/1VdyKwm

The Huffington Post’s Matt Fuller

This jeep–with an “ISIS hunting permit”–belongs to a member of Congress. (Ted Poe) And that’s just the way it is. http://bit.ly/1SgodL0

 

ON TAP:

2 p.m. EDT: Hillary Clinton holds a Women for Hillary Event in New York City with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) and Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation and of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

5:30 p.m. EDT: The Senate votes.

6 pm EDT: John Kasich holds a town hall in Schenectady, N.Y.

6:30 pm EDT: The House returns for suspension votes.

7:30 p.m. EDT: Bernie Sanders holds a rally and concert in Hunter Point South Park in Long Island City, N.Y. 

7:30 p.m. EDT: Donald Trump holds a rally in Buffalo, N.Y.

Today and tomorrow: The Brookings Institution is holding an event on “Getting millions to learn: What will it take to accelerate progress on meeting the Sustainable Development Goals?” Live stream: http://brook.gs/1qMh2DE 

10 a.m. EDT tomorrow: The Senate Banking committee is holding a hearing on sanctions under the Iran deal. Info: http://1.usa.gov/1Ndq1rh 

10 a.m. EDT tomorrow: The House Energy and Commerce subcommittee is holding a hearing on the encryption debate. Details: http://1.usa.gov/22zXk9J 

6 a.m.–9 p.m. EDT tomorrow: The polls are open in New York City and the counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Erie for the New York presidential primary. Note: It’s a closed primary, meaning only registered members of a party can vote in the primary.

12 p.m.–9 p.m. EDT: The polls are open in all other counties in New York. 

6pm EDT tomorrow: John Kasich holds a town hall in Annapolis, Md.

7 p.m. EDT tomorrow: Bernie Sanders holds a rally at Penn State University.

 

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF…:

Today is National Animal Crackers Day!

A TWITTER ACCOUNT THAT MADE ME LAUGH OUT LOUD: Here’s a father of four girls all 5 years old and under who tweets about the funny things they do. “I accidentally dripped some mustard on my newborn daughter’s forehead and long story short a nurse just walked in and saw me lick the baby.” Seriously, try getting through these without laughing. http://bzfd.it/1YCLQ4p

EATING YOUR WAY THROUGH N.Y.: Time’s Katie Reilly has a fun read about candidates eating their way through New York to win the primary. http://ti.me/1MDrcQW 

And with that, here are three newborn goats in sweaters that will get you through this Monday: http://bzfd.it/1qBnI7c 

 

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