Republican lawmakers prepare to challenge Obama’s legacy

World Today

Republican lawmakers prepare to challenge Obama's legacy

The Republicans start in the same position that the Democrats were in eight years ago: control of the White House and Congress. That means they’re thinking it’s not a question of “if” they’ll pass their own agenda for the country but when?

CGTN’s Jessica Stone reports.

House Speaker Paul Ryan told one U.S. television network, he ran the House of Representatives in 2016 like a coach, training a sports team for a championship game.

The question now is which priority gets worked on first.

Will it be overturning outgoing President Barack Obama’s national healthcare plan, known as Obamacare? Obama will meet with lawmakers on Wednesday to try and block incoming U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to repeal it including costly monthly premiums.

Will Congress focus first on confirming a new Supreme Court justice to replace Antonin Scalia, who died last February- tilting the balance of the court to conservatives rather than progressives. Or will members seek to approve new tax reform, infrastructure spending, banking de-regulation or drilling rights for energy companies.

One thing seems certain that the new Congress will investigate the U.S. intelligence community’s conclusion that Moscow influenced the U.S. presidential election to favor Trump. While the president-elect has downplayed the allegations, his own political party is leading the charge for an inquiry.

Then there’s Trump’s cabinet 21 positions that need Senate confirmation. A number of the nominees face opposition from Democrats including some from both parties. Trump’s Secretary of State pick- Rex Tillerson doesn’t support economic sanctions against Russia.

Trump’s choice to lead the Environmental Protection Agency – Scott Pruitt is a skeptic of man-made climate change.


Professor Pierre Martin talks about expectations for Trump’s first 100 days

To talks more about expectations for Trump’s first 100 days, CGTN’s Sean Callebs spoke to Pierre Martin, Professor, University of Montreal.