Slew of challenges for US Congress in 2015
Sunday, 4 January 2015
WASHINGTON, Jan 3 (AFP): The 113th Congress, which wrapped up December 16, was one of the least productive in modern history. Onward to 2015.
US lawmakers return to Washington on Tuesday under a new, fully Republican banner after the party swept to victory in November elections.
Republican leaders will have plenty on their plate in the first quarter, as the party seeks to roll back President Barack Obama's legislative gains and press its own agenda ahead of the 2016 presidential race.
Conservatives are furious at Obama's recent use of executive orders, notably to halt deportations of undocumented immigrants and to begin normalizing US-Cuba relations.
Republican legislation, including several pro-jobs bills, should pass relatively easily through the House of Representatives, where Republicans expanded their majority to 247 of 435 seats.