Republicans take full control of the US Congress this week with an agenda of trying to force approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline and push back on President Barack Obama’s sweeping policy shifts on Cuba and immigration.
After years of battles over the budget and other issues, further clashes loom as Republicans who already control the House of Representatives take over the Senate majority on Tuesday after wins against Obama’s Democrats in November’s midterm elections. Angry over the President’s moves last year to bypass Congress on issues such as immigration, Republicans have promised to fight him on a range of issues.
Obama has vowed to use his veto pen if Republicans pass legislation he opposes, but he has said he believes he may be able to forge common ground with them in some areas, including free trade, overhauling the tax code and boosting infrastructure spending. “To suddenly claim you’re going to work with members of Congress after years of ignoring them is rather ludicrous,” said Kevin Smith, a spokesman for Republican House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner.
Republicans have promised to fight Obama on a range of issues
Republican Mitch McConnell, who will become the Senate majority leader, said the American people expect compromise on key issues despite divided government.
McConnell has said the first item on his agenda will be legislation to force approval of TransCanada Corp’s Keystone XL pipeline. The pipeline, which has been under review by the Obama administration for years, would help transport oil from Canada’s oil sands to the US Gulf Coast. Democrats see the project as a threat to the environment but supporters say it will create jobs and increase North American energy security.
Republican aides said efforts to weaken Obama’s signature healthcare law were also high on their priorities.
Another early legislative fight will come when Congress considers funding for the Department of Homeland Security. A $1.1 trillion government spending bill passed in mid-December funds government through September, except for the DHS, which is funded only until February 27.
Republicans have also discussed using the fight over the homeland security agency as a vehicle for challenging Obama’s landmark move last month to normalise ties with Cuba.