Republican Congress moves into deal-making mode

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/239291-gop-congress-moves-into-deal-making-mode

What ever happened to the do-nothing Congress?Capitol Hill has seen a burst of bipartisan deal-making and legislating in recent days as newly empowered Republicans try to show voters they can govern responsibly when they’re in charge. 

After a bumpy start, GOP leaders seem to have found their footing — passing a historic $200 billion Medicare reform package, striking big, bipartisan deals on Iran, education and trade, and preparing to pass a GOP budget for the first time in a decade.Now comes the hard part: keeping the momentum.Deadlines to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank’s charter, raise the federal borrowing limit, renew the Patriot Act and replenish the highway fund are fast-approaching, and none of the issues will be simple to sort out.For now, GOP leaders are in a hopeful mood.“There will be places we’re able to [come together]. There will be places that will divide us as well. But that’s part of the process of governing. Ideas flow,” House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told The Hill in a brief interview.“There’s been some ups and there’s been some downs, and there’s been some very big successes,” he added.

Republicans entered the year under enormous pressure to show they can govern. For the first time in nearly a decade, the party hascontrol of the House and Senate. That gives them more ownership over Washington, and the party is eager to convince voters that their party should be given the keys to the White House in 2016. 

Last edited by Common Sense (4/18/2015 10:17 am)