Democrats outline legislative plans after taking control of Congress

Democratic lawmakers have begun outlining their plans for the upcoming lame-duck period and the second half of President Donald Trump's second term, The Hill reported. The moves follow midterm election victories that gave the party control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. [1]

The Hill reported that Democrats flipped seats previously held by Republicans in several states, including Texas, Maine, Kansas, Iowa, South Carolina, and Ohio. According to The Hill, Democrats secured 54 Senate seats and 254 House seats in the election. However, leadership choices within Congress have also sparked early infighting, The Hill noted. [1]

Prior to the midterm elections, Republicans held a 53 to 47 majority in the Senate alongside a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, as FTMQ Politics reported earlier. Democrats needed a net gain of four seats in each chamber to gain control of Congress. [11]

As FTMQ Politics reported earlier, Democratic lawmakers had also begun preparing a healthcare agenda ahead of taking official control in January. That planned agenda included reinstating Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits, reversing Medicaid cuts made by the Trump administration, and considering progress toward Medicare for All. [10]