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McConnell Works to Avoid Another Shutdown

November 16, 2014 at 8:51 am EST By Taegan Goddard 21 Comments

Incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is once again trying to avoid a government shutdown, the Washington Post reports.

“McConnell’s advisers are worried enough that by Friday evening they were circulating a memo showing how damaging last year’s shutdown was to the Republican Party — an effort designed to counter conservatives who point to this month’s triumphant election as proof that the shutdown did little damage.”

Politico: “Republican leaders wanted a quick and clean, drama-free lame duck session to kick off their new majority, but they find themselves heading toward a showdown over how to fund the government.”

McConnell Says He’s ‘Disturbed’ By Obama’s Actions

November 13, 2014 at 6:06 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 32 Comments

Incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) declared that he was “very disturbed” by President Obama’s recent attempts to exercise his executive powers, the Huffington Post reports.

“Those include moving ahead on dealing with undocumented immigrants, cutting a deal with China on climate change and suggesting that the Internet should be regulated like a utility under so-called net neutrality rules.”

Said McConnell: “I’ve been very disturbed about the way the president has proceeded in the wake of the election… I had maybe naively hoped the president wold look at the results of the election and decide to come to the political center and do some business with us. I still hope he does at some point, but the early signs are not good.”

Reid Slaps McConnell as He Pledges to Work With Him

November 12, 2014 at 4:27 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 18 Comments

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) pledged “to work with Republicans when they are in the majority and eschew the strategy of obstruction he has accused them of using against Democrats,” The Hill reports.

Said Reid: “I am ready… to work with him in good faith to make this institution function again for the American people. I saw firsthand how a strategy of destruction was debilitating to our system. I have no desire to engage in that manner.”

McConnell Endorses Paul for President

November 7, 2014 at 11:11 am EST By Taegan Goddard 8 Comments

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) endorsed Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-KY) widely expected 2016 presidential run, adding an important establishment name to the effort, the Lexington Herald Leader reports.

Said McConnell: “I don’t think he’s made a final decision on that. But he’ll be able to count on me.”

Do Boehner and McConnell Get Along?

November 6, 2014 at 2:36 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 10 Comments

John Boehner and Mitch McConnell “have never been best friends,” Roll Call reports.

“But they aren’t enemies, either. Far from it, say staffers and sources who know both lawmakers. The speaker and the Senate’s presumptive new majority leader have built, over the years, a solid professional relationship based on a sturdy sense of mutual respect. That relationship is in the spotlight now more than ever, with Republicans emboldened in the wake of Tuesday’s wave election that saw the GOP pick up at least eight seats in the Senate and more than a dozen in the House.”

Getting to Know Mitch

November 6, 2014 at 6:55 am EST By Taegan Goddard 11 Comments

The New York Times has a good look at the relationship between President Obama and the likely new Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

“After six years of sparse communication and social interaction but frequent open hostility, the relationship between the taciturn Kentuckian and the aloof chief executive could determine Mr. Obama’s legislative legacy and Republican presidential fortunes in 2016. In other words, there is a lot riding on very little rapport.”

Wall Street Journal: “The president and Mr. McConnell are the latest in a long line of bipartisan odd couples to dictate the legislative agenda in Washington. Mr. Obama is a historic figure with a penchant for sweeping rhetoric. Mr. McConnell is a tactician who has spent the better part of three decades mastering legislative arcana.”

McConnell Expected to Woo King and Manchin

November 5, 2014 at 2:39 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 73 Comments

Two Senate sources tell The Hill that they expect Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to reach out to Sen. Angus King (I-ME) and centrist Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) about joining the Senate Republican conference.

“Republicans have a 52-seat Senate majority and that could swell to 54 seats depending on the final vote tally in Alaska and a runoff in Louisiana next month. Both are solidly red states.”

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