Potential battlegrounds with Barack Obama

The Republican Party took control of both chambers of the US Congress on Tuesday, and despite remarks by US President Barack Obama and Republican leaders about working together on issues of common concern, the sides are likely to frequently butt heads. Among the most likely stumbling blocks:

BUDGET: Congress passed a $1.1 trillion (Dh4 trillion) budget that Obama signed into law last month, but the measure only funds the Department of Homeland Security to the end of February. Republicans are angered by Obama’s executive action to allow millions of illegal immigrants to remain in the country, and late last year blocked the funds. That sets up a fight with Obama on immigration reform in the new year. Republicans however are not eager to repeat the fight they picked with Democrats in 2013, when a showdown over the budget resulted in a two-week shutdown of government operations. Republicans took much of the public blame, and will be hesitant to do so again in the year before a presidential election. Senators have said they have a responsibility as the majority to fund government operations.

DEBT CEILING

Congress must act again to raise the nation’s debt ceiling in mid-March. Republicans have called for major spending cuts in exchange for increasing the limit, but Obama remains adamant that Congress must produce funds to cover what it has approved. If no action is taken, the government would be forced into default.

IMMIGRATION

Obama issued an executive order after the November elections that protected some 5 million illegal immigrants from deportation. The Republicans have called the move illegal. However, they must proceed carefully with their response or risk alienating the crucial Hispanic political bloc ahead of 2016 presidential elections. Speaker of the House John Boehner last month declined to detail the Republican plans, but said a Republican proposal will include stepped up border security measures.

HEALTH CARE

Republicans have for years sought to abolish or roll back Obama’s signature health care reform law. Now that they have the majority in both chambers of Congress, their efforts could go further — but would still face a veto by Obama if they were to pass changes. Republicans lack the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto.

ENVIRONMENT

The Obama administration last year introduced regulations that aim to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. Republicans see such moves as unnecessary burdens on business and damaging to job creation. Another point of contention will be the Keystone XL oil pipeline from the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico. The pipeline’s fate remains undecided amid a State Department review of the subject; Republicans have vowed to push it through; Obama seems likely to veto it.

IRAN

Six-party talks with Iran over its disputed nuclear programme have been extended until July and the outcome remains in question. Many Republicans would like to slap more sanctions on Tehran in the meantime, a move that Obama has said would needlessly undermine the talks.

CUBA

Obama acted in December to resume diplomatic relations with neighbouring Cuba after decades of isolating the communist island. He said he would like to lift the economic embargo, but to do so would need the approval of Congress. Opposition to Obama’s Cuba overtures has come from both the Democratic and Republican ranks.

NOMINATIONS

Obama’s picks for his cabinet, judges, ambassadors and other positions must be approved by the Senate. Two major tests will be his nominations for defence secretary, Ashton Carter, and attorney general, Loretta Lynch.