By Ramsey Cox - 11-12-14 14:23 PM EST
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on Wednesday that the productiveness of the next Congress will depend on President Obama.
“Working together requires trust,” said McConnell, who will take over as majority leader next year. “President Obama has a duty to help build the trust we all need to move forward together.”
“Let’s not do things to hurt the possibility of cooperative partnership.”
McConnell made his comments on lawmakers’ first day back after midterm elections in which Republicans gained enough seats to take majority control of the upper chamber in the 114th Congress.
McConnell said voters wanted more cooperation in Washington and that the president was key to that equation. He warned Obama not to issue executive orders on immigration reform or global warming at the risk of offending Republicans.
“I think moving forward with the unilateral action on immigration he’s planned would be a big mistake,” McConnell said on the Senate floor Wednesday. “As was last night’s announcement to essentially give China a free pass on emissions while hurting middle-class families and struggling miners here at home.”
Republicans oppose the president's unilateral actions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and extending worker visas to nearly 5 million immigrants.
McConnell and outgoing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) are working to move essential legislation forward over the next few weeks, during the lame-duck session.
McConnell said he wants to pass legislation to fund the government, extend elements of the tax code, authorize training of Syrian troops against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, and to fund Ebola prevention measures.
“The actions of the next few weeks could help set a positive tone for the work of the next Congress — it’s a tone that will depend largely on the administration’s willingness to respect the message sent last Tuesday,” McConnell said, referring to the midterm elections.
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