President Barack Obama on Wednesday said he hoped
to work constructively with newly ascendant Republicans in Congress,
highlighting areas for immediate action as well as longer-term areas where he
hoped to strike deals with lawmakers. Mr. Obama highlighted expanding trade and
overhauling the corporate tax code as areas of possible agreement with the
Republican majority.
Still, Mr. Obama hit many of the same themes as he did
during the campaign season, including calls for investment in infrastructure,
greater college affordability and a higher minimum wage. And he at times
sounded combative notes, saying that Congress may not like certain executive
actions and he may have to veto some legislation.
Republicans gained at least seven seats in the voting for
Senate on Tuesday, handing the party control of both houses of Congress for the
first time since 2006. The result gives the GOP new power over Mr. Obama’s
agenda and forces the White House to adjust plans for its final two years in
office. In a further setback for the president, Republicans also dominated
gubernatorial races, pushing into traditionally Democratic states and picking
up a net of three new seats.
Mr. Obama, who largely avoided campaigning for Democratic
candidates amid low personal approval ratings, said Republicans deserved credit
for running good campaigns.
Mr. Obama has promised executive action on immigration
before the end of the year, a move most Republicans oppose. On Wednesday, he
maintained a preference for broader legislation to address shortcomings in the
immigration system but again pledged to take “whatever lawful actions that I
can take” to improve the system.
Even before Republicans formally take control next year, Mr.
Obama called on lawmakers to act on funding to combat Ebola, legislation on the
use of military force in Syria and a budget to fund the rest of the fiscal
year. Earlier Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who won a
sixth term Tuesday, said that the Republican victory in the Senate
indicated dissatisfaction with the direction of the Obama administration
and the “dysfunction” in Washington.
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