This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-taking-control-of-congress-eager-to-reshape-policy-and-strike-deals/2015/01/03/158c2b24-9296-11e4-ba53-a477d66580ed_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Republicans taking control of Congress eager to reshape policy and strike deals | Republicans taking control of Congress eager to reshape policy and strike deals |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A top priority for Republicans as they take full control of Congress this week will be to repair their reputation as a divided party hobbled by infighting and permanent confrontation with President Obama. | A top priority for Republicans as they take full control of Congress this week will be to repair their reputation as a divided party hobbled by infighting and permanent confrontation with President Obama. |
| The overarching ambition is to try to reshape policy in ways that prove to average Americans that Republicans can govern, especially with the 2016 presidential campaign in its early stages. | The overarching ambition is to try to reshape policy in ways that prove to average Americans that Republicans can govern, especially with the 2016 presidential campaign in its early stages. |
| “I think a majority [of Republicans] recognize that we have to govern responsibly,” said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who will become chairman of the Armed Services Committee. “We have to show that we can be a productive party, and that, I think, will have a direct effect on whether we’re able to elect a Republican as president in 2016.” | “I think a majority [of Republicans] recognize that we have to govern responsibly,” said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who will become chairman of the Armed Services Committee. “We have to show that we can be a productive party, and that, I think, will have a direct effect on whether we’re able to elect a Republican as president in 2016.” |
| Incoming committee chairmen like McCain are preparing fresh oversight of federal agencies while rank-and-file members will be encouraged to use a new budget plan and government spending bills to challenge the president by trying to roll back Obama’s new environmental regulations, health-care reforms and his outreach to Cuba and Iran. | Incoming committee chairmen like McCain are preparing fresh oversight of federal agencies while rank-and-file members will be encouraged to use a new budget plan and government spending bills to challenge the president by trying to roll back Obama’s new environmental regulations, health-care reforms and his outreach to Cuba and Iran. |
| But with public disgust at Washington at an all-time high, Republicans are even more eager to demonstrate that they can be productive and have some level of bipartisan cooperation with the president. Though, no one has bipartisanship as the top agenda item. | But with public disgust at Washington at an all-time high, Republicans are even more eager to demonstrate that they can be productive and have some level of bipartisan cooperation with the president. Though, no one has bipartisanship as the top agenda item. |
| “On the things where we agree, the goal will be to make a law, not just put something on his desk,” incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), said in an interview, adding later: “I want to make it clear: Desire for a signature is not going to dictate everything that we do.” | “On the things where we agree, the goal will be to make a law, not just put something on his desk,” incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), said in an interview, adding later: “I want to make it clear: Desire for a signature is not going to dictate everything that we do.” |
| Securing final passage of bills will require McConnell and House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) to compromise with Democrats while holding together their own ranks, who have clashed repeatedly over issues such as spending and immigration. Many GOP leaders hope that their differences can be set aside in favor of legislative wins. | Securing final passage of bills will require McConnell and House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) to compromise with Democrats while holding together their own ranks, who have clashed repeatedly over issues such as spending and immigration. Many GOP leaders hope that their differences can be set aside in favor of legislative wins. |
| The House and Senate formally reconvene on Tuesday. New members will be sworn in and top leaders and committee chairmen formally installed on a day steeped in tradition and ceremony. | The House and Senate formally reconvene on Tuesday. New members will be sworn in and top leaders and committee chairmen formally installed on a day steeped in tradition and ceremony. |
| Boehner and McConnell will be backed by larger GOP majorities: 246 Republicans in the House, the party’s largest majority since just after World War II; and 54 GOP senators, an impressive gain but short of the 60 votes required to overcome most procedural hurdles Democrats will have at their disposal. | Boehner and McConnell will be backed by larger GOP majorities: 246 Republicans in the House, the party’s largest majority since just after World War II; and 54 GOP senators, an impressive gain but short of the 60 votes required to overcome most procedural hurdles Democrats will have at their disposal. |
| In the Senate, the rebranding effort will begin with energy policy. | In the Senate, the rebranding effort will begin with energy policy. |
| McConnell plans to begin his tenure as Senate majority leader with a “full-throated” debate on national energy policy, ranging from a new oil pipeline to additional oil exploration. He has also promised consideration of liberal alternatives. | McConnell plans to begin his tenure as Senate majority leader with a “full-throated” debate on national energy policy, ranging from a new oil pipeline to additional oil exploration. He has also promised consideration of liberal alternatives. |
| McConnell wants to use the controversial proposal to authorize construction of the Keystone XL pipeline as the genesis for a free-wheeling Senate debate about America’s energy future, in which both sides will have the opportunity to offer and debate more expansive energy issues than just the narrow pipeline proposal. | McConnell wants to use the controversial proposal to authorize construction of the Keystone XL pipeline as the genesis for a free-wheeling Senate debate about America’s energy future, in which both sides will have the opportunity to offer and debate more expansive energy issues than just the narrow pipeline proposal. |
| “We can treat this like a serious and significant energy debate,” McConnell said in an interview before Christmas in his Capitol office. | “We can treat this like a serious and significant energy debate,” McConnell said in an interview before Christmas in his Capitol office. |
| Obama has resisted GOP efforts to authorize the pipeline, but dozens of moderate congressional Democrats support the bill and a broader energy debate. | Obama has resisted GOP efforts to authorize the pipeline, but dozens of moderate congressional Democrats support the bill and a broader energy debate. |
| Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), a lead author of the Keystone bill, said that Republicans plan to consider proposals allowing the export of liquified natural gas; to give state governments greater power to oversee hydraulic fracturing; and to restrict the federal government’s role in constructing cross-border gas pipelines. | Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), a lead author of the Keystone bill, said that Republicans plan to consider proposals allowing the export of liquified natural gas; to give state governments greater power to oversee hydraulic fracturing; and to restrict the federal government’s role in constructing cross-border gas pipelines. |
| “I don’t think we have an energy bill that doesn’t have a Democratic cosponsor on it,” he said. “Because at the end of the day you’ve got to get at least 60 votes” in order to clear procedural hurdles. | “I don’t think we have an energy bill that doesn’t have a Democratic cosponsor on it,” he said. “Because at the end of the day you’ve got to get at least 60 votes” in order to clear procedural hurdles. |
| The open process is part of McConnell’s effort to live up to his pledge to restore the Senate’s grand tradition of free and full debate, while also advancing conservative causes. A skilled practitioner in the use of the Senate’s arcane procedural rules to move or block legislation, McConnell has pledged to use those rules to score some conservative wins. He has been coaching GOP senators that their most likely path to wins will come on the annual spending bills for the federal government — which Republicans have routinely opposed on the grounds that they spend too much taxpayer money. | The open process is part of McConnell’s effort to live up to his pledge to restore the Senate’s grand tradition of free and full debate, while also advancing conservative causes. A skilled practitioner in the use of the Senate’s arcane procedural rules to move or block legislation, McConnell has pledged to use those rules to score some conservative wins. He has been coaching GOP senators that their most likely path to wins will come on the annual spending bills for the federal government — which Republicans have routinely opposed on the grounds that they spend too much taxpayer money. |
| But now, with control of the House and Senate, Republicans have more leeway to attach policy riders in the spending bills that will restrict federal agencies in their oversight of environmental, labor and other regulations. These still may draw presidential vetoes, but McConnell believes that Republicans will have leverage to get some restrictions included, just as the mammoth spending measure approved last month included language sought by Wall Street firms making risky trades. | But now, with control of the House and Senate, Republicans have more leeway to attach policy riders in the spending bills that will restrict federal agencies in their oversight of environmental, labor and other regulations. These still may draw presidential vetoes, but McConnell believes that Republicans will have leverage to get some restrictions included, just as the mammoth spending measure approved last month included language sought by Wall Street firms making risky trades. |
| In the House, most of the early weeks will seem like a do-over of the past two years — except that many of the bills passed will get swifter Senate consideration. | In the House, most of the early weeks will seem like a do-over of the past two years — except that many of the bills passed will get swifter Senate consideration. |
| Up first is a veterans employment bill that passed last year with bipartisan support, according to senior leadership aides. There’s also a bill to loosen work requirements set by the Affordable Care Act and a similar bill to authorize the Keystone pipeline. | Up first is a veterans employment bill that passed last year with bipartisan support, according to senior leadership aides. There’s also a bill to loosen work requirements set by the Affordable Care Act and a similar bill to authorize the Keystone pipeline. |
| The second week of January will be devoted to a new spending plan for the Department of Homeland Security. The spending bill only funds DHS until the end of February, a move designed to give Republicans more time to craft a legislative response to Obama’s decision to change immigration policy through executive actions. But no specific proposals have yet emerged, the aides said. | The second week of January will be devoted to a new spending plan for the Department of Homeland Security. The spending bill only funds DHS until the end of February, a move designed to give Republicans more time to craft a legislative response to Obama’s decision to change immigration policy through executive actions. But no specific proposals have yet emerged, the aides said. |
| Then there’s the ongoing investigations into alleged wrongdoing at agencies including the Internal Revenue Service, the Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency. | Then there’s the ongoing investigations into alleged wrongdoing at agencies including the Internal Revenue Service, the Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency. |
| “There are issues that haven’t been resolved,” said Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), the new chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. | “There are issues that haven’t been resolved,” said Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), the new chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. |
| He’s launching new subcommittees to closely track Obama’s energy and environmental policy and “administrative rules,” a panel that will “try to figure out what the administration is doing next with its rule-making authority. We’re going to jump on those as fast as we possibly can,” he said. | He’s launching new subcommittees to closely track Obama’s energy and environmental policy and “administrative rules,” a panel that will “try to figure out what the administration is doing next with its rule-making authority. We’re going to jump on those as fast as we possibly can,” he said. |
| Before the work begins, Boehner is expected to face another leadership challenge. After surviving a close call two years ago, conservative blogs and radio shows are actively supporting another effort to unseat him. | Before the work begins, Boehner is expected to face another leadership challenge. After surviving a close call two years ago, conservative blogs and radio shows are actively supporting another effort to unseat him. |
| Presuming that the 434 currently-seated House members show up to vote on Tuesday and that all Democrats vote against him, at least 28 of the 246 Republicans also would need to vote against Boehner to deny him the gavel. (The 435th House seat was held by Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.), who plans to resign on Monday after recently pleading guilty to tax evasion charges.) | Presuming that the 434 currently-seated House members show up to vote on Tuesday and that all Democrats vote against him, at least 28 of the 246 Republicans also would need to vote against Boehner to deny him the gavel. (The 435th House seat was held by Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.), who plans to resign on Monday after recently pleading guilty to tax evasion charges.) |
| Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.), who opposed Boehner two years ago, said in a recent radio interview that he’ll do it again, adding that at least 16 to 18 Republican members might vote against the speaker. Among them is Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.), who said Friday that he’ll vote against the speaker because the spending bill passed last month didn’t fully strip DHS of its funding. | Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.), who opposed Boehner two years ago, said in a recent radio interview that he’ll do it again, adding that at least 16 to 18 Republican members might vote against the speaker. Among them is Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.), who said Friday that he’ll vote against the speaker because the spending bill passed last month didn’t fully strip DHS of its funding. |
| Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), a Boehner ally, said in an interview that “I expect a few scattered ‘no’ votes. But because Boehner has been strengthened by the gains in the election, the speaker election should mostly be an uneventful coronation.” | Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), a Boehner ally, said in an interview that “I expect a few scattered ‘no’ votes. But because Boehner has been strengthened by the gains in the election, the speaker election should mostly be an uneventful coronation.” |
| The opening weeks of the new Congress are also expected to include the confirmation of Ashton Carter, Obama’s pick to lead the Pentagon, and Loretta Lynch to be the next attorney general. Concerns with Iran are also expected to be an early focus. The Obama administration convinced Senate Democrats last year to hold off debating a bipartisan proposal authorizing stronger sanctions against the Iranian regime. | |
| But “My guess is fairly early on in some form or fashion the Senate’s going to want to weigh in on Iran,” said Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the incoming chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. | But “My guess is fairly early on in some form or fashion the Senate’s going to want to weigh in on Iran,” said Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the incoming chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. |
| Corker also plans to launch “a rigorous hearing process” on Obama’s decision to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba. Republicans have threatened to block funding for a new embassy in Havana and confirmation of a new ambassador to Cuba. But Obama could veto spending bills that include such restrictions, sparking a showdown over whether the GOP is willing to shutter parts of the government over a new Cuba policy. | Corker also plans to launch “a rigorous hearing process” on Obama’s decision to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba. Republicans have threatened to block funding for a new embassy in Havana and confirmation of a new ambassador to Cuba. But Obama could veto spending bills that include such restrictions, sparking a showdown over whether the GOP is willing to shutter parts of the government over a new Cuba policy. |
| In 2016, Republicans will be defending at least 24 Senate seats and about a dozen first-term House members from swing districts around the country. Party leaders have a political imperative to govern and avoid short-term fights with Obama. | In 2016, Republicans will be defending at least 24 Senate seats and about a dozen first-term House members from swing districts around the country. Party leaders have a political imperative to govern and avoid short-term fights with Obama. |
| “We will see if there is an opportunity for a fourth quarter for President Obama that actually moves the country in the direct we’d like to go,” said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), who also will be responsible for helping reelect GOP senators in 2016. | “We will see if there is an opportunity for a fourth quarter for President Obama that actually moves the country in the direct we’d like to go,” said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), who also will be responsible for helping reelect GOP senators in 2016. |
| “Reagan did it a generation ago working with Democrats. Clinton did it almost two decades ago with welfare reform and deficit reduction,” he said. “So it can be done — if the president is disposed to move in that direction.” | “Reagan did it a generation ago working with Democrats. Clinton did it almost two decades ago with welfare reform and deficit reduction,” he said. “So it can be done — if the president is disposed to move in that direction.” |
| Robert Costa contributed to this report. | Robert Costa contributed to this report. |