Guest Editorial…Consequences of midterm elections

Editorial2
Last Tuesday marked the end of a bitter midterm election campaign which has resulted in serious consequences for future domestic and foreign policies.
Congressional Republicans increased their majority in the House of Representatives and their numbers in the Senate, taking control of the Senate for the first time since 2006.
The new Republican majority in the Senate could result in several major changes in public policy, including escalating the war in the Middle East and more cuts to social entitlement programs, such as Medicare and Social Security.
There will probably also be an attempt to make changes to the Affordable Care Act.
There have been published reports the Obama administration was meeting with Republicans for weeks prior to Election Day in anticipation of a Republican takeover of the Senate.
The results of Tuesday’s election will seriously affect Obama’s last two years in office.
A Republican takeover of the Senate could include two years of congressional investigations and presidential vetoes to block a conservative agenda.
But the New York Times suggested, “If Republicans are fully in charge of Congress rather than mainly an opposition party, both sides may have an incentive to strike deals,” identifying “trade, corporate taxes and infrastructure” as the main areas of potential agreement.
The Republican takeover could force Pres. Obama to seek compromises with Republicans on areas like trade, infrastructure spending and a corporate tax overhaul. Or it could deepen the gridlock in Washington as both sides turn their attention to the 2016 presidential campaigns.
Either way, now that midterm election contests are over the two parties must govern and show voters how they will maintain and improve upon a steadily improving economy, and relieve the anxiety among many Americans about several crises and issues, including Ebola, immigration, terrorists in the Middle East and continued economic uncertainty.
https://www.phillytrib.com/commentary/article_8d357201-e09f-5de7-8cfd-08e08b02dc32.html

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