If President Biden experienced rough patches with legislation during his first months in office, the road is no smoother as a new Congress is sworn in. Navigating and negotiating a divided Congress is the bane of presidents, particularly after bitterly fought midterm elections. The setbacks were not as bad as expected but, nonetheless, problematic for the Biden administration.
While the Democrats managed to hold onto the Senate, the Republicans won 222 seats in the House, 10 more than the Democrats, giving them control of the chamber.
Many of the narrow votes in the House will depend on the extent to which Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the new leader of the Democratic Caucus, can keep his colleagues united. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi will probably be a needed asset in this task.
In a rush to beat the deadline of congressional change, Biden quickly signed off on EPA regulations to protect small streams, wetlands and waterways as part of the Clean Water Act before the end of 2022.
All is not well on the other side of the political divide, with the GOP still at odds on who will be the new Speaker. Earlier, in a secret ballot, Rep. Kevin McCarthy of Calif. was given a decisive victory, but he will need 218 votes to become the speaker.
Among the ordeals ahead for the Biden administration and the divided House is the possible GOP investigations, especially the continuing concern about Biden’s son, Hunter, and the family’s business dealings. Will the cry of impeachment once again resonate?
Meanwhile, Biden is in the process of commemorating the hearings about the Jan. 6 event, largely a victory for him and his cohort. The charges against Trump and his role in provoking and stoking the insurrection were clearly the overwhelming results of the months of proceedings.
The year ’23 is a prime number, and Biden appears primed to close the divide and prepare for another bid for the Oval Office.