McConnell: 2017 a huge success for Congress
Senate leader points to tax cuts, Supreme Court
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declared 2017 a huge success Friday, saying in a year- end press conference that Congress has passed legislation to dramatically transform the nation and the economy.
Along with adoption of $ 1.5 trillion in corporate and individual tax cuts that President Trump signed Friday morning, McConnell noted that the Senate repealed regulations adopted by President Obama’s administration and installed Cabinet officers who would continue the process.
“A combination of regulatory relief and comprehensive tax reform ... is the way to get the economy moving again,” McConnell said.
McConnell also pointed out perhaps the longest lasting success: The confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, who is likely to serve on the court for decades. Herecognized, however, that apart from nominations and a narrow group of issues covered by strict budget rules, the Senate needs 60 votes to pass bills in the new year.
And the Republican majority will drop from 52 to 51 because of the loss in an Alabama special election by Republican Roy Moore, whose nomination was backed by former Trump adviser Steve Bannon but opposed by McConnell.
“The political genius on display in throwing away a seat in the reddest state in America is hard to ignore,” McConnell said when asked about Bannon.
Looking toward the 2018 midterm elections, McConnell said Republicans had to be focused on “supporting people who can actually win” in November.
McConnell said he hoped there could be bipartisan work in 2018 on immigration and infrastructure and believed a bill to relax regulations on community banks had a good chance of passage. “One thing you could say about this year is it was pretty partisan,” McConnell said.
He did not rule out further votes on trying to repeal Obamacare but said he would need to see that an effort had the votes to pass before he would bring it up.
One major piece of unfinished business is funding to keep the government operating. Trump signed another short- term extension that runs through Jan. 19 on Friday, but Democrats and Republicans need to reach agreement on howmuch to lift budget caps that otherwise could force cuts to defense and domestic spending.