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Republicans take control of Congress as Boehner faces leadership challenge Republicans take control of Congress as Boehner faces leadership challenge
(about 2 hours later)
Republican leaders will take control of both chambers of Congress on Tuesday, seeking to reap the gains made in November’s midterm elections but seemingly unable to quell a revolt from the conservative wing of the party.Republican leaders will take control of both chambers of Congress on Tuesday, seeking to reap the gains made in November’s midterm elections but seemingly unable to quell a revolt from the conservative wing of the party.
In a sign of divisions in the party, John Boehner, the speaker of the House of the Representatives, is expected to face a challenge to his re-election from Tea Party-aligned Republicans.In a sign of divisions in the party, John Boehner, the speaker of the House of the Representatives, is expected to face a challenge to his re-election from Tea Party-aligned Republicans.
Boehner, who will preside over one of the largest Republican majorities in recent decades, is expected to easily overcome the challenge from rightwingers wary of their leadership’s determination to rebuild the party.Boehner, who will preside over one of the largest Republican majorities in recent decades, is expected to easily overcome the challenge from rightwingers wary of their leadership’s determination to rebuild the party.
However, the challenge to Boehner will lay bare deep fissures the remain in the GOP and lingering frustration among conservatives over the $1.1tn spending compromise reached with Democrats in December. However, the challenge to Boehner will lay bare deep fissures that remain in the GOP and lingering frustration among conservatives over the $1.1tn spending compromise reached with Democrats in December.
The GOP is determined to use its new power in Washington to implement legislation before the 2016 presidential elections.The GOP is determined to use its new power in Washington to implement legislation before the 2016 presidential elections.
The new Republican majority leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, said he wants to overcome the party’s “scary” reputation and signal the GOP’s intention to govern as a “responsible, right-of-center, governing majority.” The new Republican majority leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, said he wants to overcome the party’s “scary” reputation and signal the GOP’s intention to govern as a “responsible, right-of-centre, governing majority”.
McConnell and the Democratic White House believe there are areas of potential consensus around international trade deals, an overhaul of the tax code, and new revenue streams for infrastructure projects.McConnell and the Democratic White House believe there are areas of potential consensus around international trade deals, an overhaul of the tax code, and new revenue streams for infrastructure projects.
“These are all areas where there does stand the potential for bipartisan agreement, and the president is certainly going to pursue them,” said Barack Obama’s press secretary, Josh Earnest. “The president is also going to pursue some other things the Republicans may not like that he can do on his own.”“These are all areas where there does stand the potential for bipartisan agreement, and the president is certainly going to pursue them,” said Barack Obama’s press secretary, Josh Earnest. “The president is also going to pursue some other things the Republicans may not like that he can do on his own.”
He added that compromise “is going to be the name of the game” in Washington now power is fully divided between the Republican-controlled Congress and the Democratic White House.He added that compromise “is going to be the name of the game” in Washington now power is fully divided between the Republican-controlled Congress and the Democratic White House.
White House officials would not be drawn, however, on whether Obama will sign legislation to approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, a major priority for McConnell and Boehner expected to be among the first bills to reach the president’s desk.White House officials would not be drawn, however, on whether Obama will sign legislation to approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, a major priority for McConnell and Boehner expected to be among the first bills to reach the president’s desk.
Earnest said Obama “does harbor concerns” about the environmental consequences of the pipeline, and would await the outcome of related court proceedings in Nebraska, which have held up the project’s authorization. Earnest said Obama “does harbor concerns” about the environmental consequences of the pipeline, and would await the outcome of related court proceedings in Nebraska, which have held up the project’s authorisation.
The GOP’s ability to force the president’s hand on Keystone and a number of other issues depends in part on its leadership’s ability to instil discipline within the ranks.The GOP’s ability to force the president’s hand on Keystone and a number of other issues depends in part on its leadership’s ability to instil discipline within the ranks.
While Boehner is expected to survive Tuesday’s leadership vote, the scale of opposition will be an early test of strength for conservatives in the party, who triggered a government shutdown in 2013 and helped depose the speaker’s deputy, former majority leader, Eric Cantor, in 2014. While Boehner is expected to survive Tuesday’s leadership vote, the scale of opposition will be an early test of strength for conservatives in the party, who triggered a government shutdown in 2013 and helped depose the speaker’s deputy, the former majority leader Eric Cantor in 2014.
Dave Brat, who unexpectedly defeated Cantor in a Virginia primary race, was one of a several GOP hardliners to voice their opposition to Boehner. Boehner overcame a similar challenge two years ago.Dave Brat, who unexpectedly defeated Cantor in a Virginia primary race, was one of a several GOP hardliners to voice their opposition to Boehner. Boehner overcame a similar challenge two years ago.
“Washington is broken in part because our party’s leadership has strayed from its own principles of free market, limited government, constitutional conservatism,” Brat recently wrote. “We are at a crucial turning point in our country’s history – do we truly want free markets, or does cronyism remain in place?”“Washington is broken in part because our party’s leadership has strayed from its own principles of free market, limited government, constitutional conservatism,” Brat recently wrote. “We are at a crucial turning point in our country’s history – do we truly want free markets, or does cronyism remain in place?”
Two members of the House have said they are challenging Boehner for his seat. Texas Republican Louie Gohmert told Fox News this weekend that he is putting his name in the running because “it’s time for a change.” Two members of the House have said they are challenging Boehner for his seat. The Texas Republican Louie Gohmert told Fox News this weekend that he is putting his name in the running because “it’s time for a change.”
Florida Republican Ted Yoho also announced this weekend that he is interested in taking over the top job in the House. Yoho said in an email to supporters that he had voted against Boehner two years ago. “I believed we needed stronger leadership then, and two years later, I still believe that today,” Yoho said. The Florida Republican Ted Yoho also announced this weekend that he is interested in taking over the top job in the House. Yoho said in an email to supporters that he had voted against Boehner two years ago. “I believed we needed stronger leadership then, and two years later, I still believe that today,” Yoho said.
Gohmert, Yoho and Brat are in a small minority of the House caucus. “There are always malcontents,” Tom Cole, an Oklahoma congressman and Boehner ally, told the Washington Post. “If you go against your own colleagues by opposing the speaker on the floor, you will embarrass House Republicans and disrupt our team. It’d be unforgivable political behaviour.”Gohmert, Yoho and Brat are in a small minority of the House caucus. “There are always malcontents,” Tom Cole, an Oklahoma congressman and Boehner ally, told the Washington Post. “If you go against your own colleagues by opposing the speaker on the floor, you will embarrass House Republicans and disrupt our team. It’d be unforgivable political behaviour.”
The GOP leader chiefly responsible for minimising the opposition to Boehner’s re-election is Steve Scalise, the House majority whip Steve Scalise, who found himself plunged into controversy last week over his appearance a decade ago at white supremacist conference. The GOP leader chiefly responsible for minimising the opposition to Boehner’s re-election is Steve Scalise, the House majority whip who found himself plunged into controversy last week over his appearance a decade ago at white supremacist conference.