Title: What to Expect from the Next Congress: A Conversation with CNN Congressional Correspondent Lauren Fox
As the current Congress wraps up, the Republican party is poised to take control of the House, Senate, and White House in January, giving them complete control of Washington for the first time since early 2019. This significant shift in power comes with big ideas about how to spend their political capital, but limited by slim majorities in the House and Senate.
Lauren Fox, CNN’s congressional correspondent, shared her insights on what to expect in the next Congress. When asked about the upcoming budget deadline, Fox said that a short-term patch to fund the government is the most likely scenario, which would kick the can down the road until early spring.
Regarding the incoming Trump administration, Fox noted that President-elect Trump’s backing will be crucial for Speaker-elect Mike Johnson to preserve his speakership. Fox also pointed out that sticking a funding fight in the middle of the first 100 days could complicate legislation and make it difficult to confirm an entire Cabinet.
Fox emphasized that Republicans will face challenges in passing major legislation due to the narrow majorities in the House and Senate. The likely scenario is that they will punt tax reform until later in the year, focusing on smaller legislation that deals with defense, energy, and immigration in the first 100 days.
The article also discussed Trump’s tax promises and their chances of passing. Fox said that Republicans are unlikely to count on Democratic votes for their tax bill, as they will likely pass it through reconciliation. The biggest challenge will be balancing their campaign promises with the budget reality.
Finally, Fox touched on the possibility of a government shutdown. She noted that Republicans will have to make a political calculation about whether to pursue a shutdown in their first 100 days. Additionally, she highlighted the potential for Democrats to dig in more as the government deadline approaches.
Overall, the next Congress is expected to be a challenging one for Republicans, with limited margins in both the House and Senate. Fox’s insights provide a glimpse into what we can expect from the next Congress, from funding deadlines to tax reform and beyond.
