By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON
A new Congress convened Tuesday with Republicans in charge of both houses, setting the stage for a potential showdown with President Barack Obama.
The 114th Congress will be comprised of 58 new faces in the House of Representatives, and 13 in the Senate. Of those in the House, 43 are Republicans, increasing Republican control there to 234 of 434 representatives – the largest majority they have held since the early 1930s.
In the Senate, 12 of the 13 incoming lawmakers are Republicans, switching majority control to Republicans for the first time since 2006.
Vice President Joe Biden administered the oath of office to newly elected and re-elected senators in groups of four Tuesday.
Fending off opposition from tea party conservatives in his caucus, John Boehner was re-elected to a third term as House Speaker in the chamber’s top spot. He said that he will seek presidential support on energy, jobs and veterans initiatives.
“It will be a sign that the logjam is breaking and it will be a foundation on which to address the bigger challenges in the pursuit of freedom and security,” he said during a House swearing-in ceremony.
But just hours after the new Congress was sworn in, the White House said that Obama would veto legislation to authorize construction of a new oil pipeline through the U.S.
“If this bill passes this Congress, the president wouldn't sign it,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters Tuesday.
Republicans, who have majority control of both houses for the first time in Obama’s presidency, have emphasized the pipeline in their legislative agenda.
Obama is scheduled to meet with congressional leaders from both parties next Tuesday.
Earnest said that it will be an opportunity for Obama and lawmakers to discuss the year’s legislative agenda as well as “a couple of foreign policy issues.”
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