Donald Trump supporters stand on the West front Lawn of the U.S….

WASHINGTON The Capitol complex will still be fortified when the Senate gets back to legislative action shortly after Donald Trump leaves the building for the first time as president. Senators will waste little starting to process Trump's nominees, with national security positions expected to be the first out of the gate, though all that must wait for the Senate to have something to consent to, meaning nominations for people like retired Gen.

Senate poised to confirm Trump’s pick to head Treasury

President Donald Trump's pick for Treasury secretary is headed toward confirmation by the Senate Monday despite complaints by Democrats that Steven Mnuchin ran a "foreclosure machine" when he headed OneWest Bank. Votes on Trump's Cabinet picks have exposed deep partisan divisions in the Republican-controlled Senate, with many of the nominees approved by mostly party-line votes.

McConnell: Rolling back Obama regulations isna t enough to bring back Appalachian coal

Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky sits down with McClatchy and answers questions ranging from the repeal of the Affordable Care Act to the Donald Trump's surprise victory on election night Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said rolling back the Obama administration's environmental rules wouldn't entirely bring back the coal industry in eastern Kentucky. McConnell told McClatchy in an interview that lawmakers in Congress would work with the incoming Trump administration to "remove as many of the government impediments as possible and give the coal industry a chance to survive."

Senate ready to start taking apart Affordable Care Act

The Republican-led Senate is poised to take a step forward on dismantling President Obama's health care law despite anxiety among GOP lawmakers over the lack of an alternative. Senate approval - expected late Wednesday or early Thursday - and then House passage as early as Friday would trigger committee action to write repeal legislation that could come to a vote next month.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., left,

After debating seven hours through the night, the Senate voted early Thursday to take the first real step toward repealing Obamacare - a top goal of congressional Republicans and President-elect Donald Trump. Obamacare takes first real step closer to repeal after Senate vote After debating seven hours through the night, the Senate voted early Thursday to take the first real step toward repealing Obamacare - a top goal of congressional Republicans and President-elect Donald Trump.

Aide says Trump accepts US report blaming Russia for hack

President-elect Donald Trump accepts the conclusion by US intelligence agencies that Russia tried to interfere in the election that will soon put him in the White House, a top aide said Sunday. ''He's not denying that entities in Russia were behind this particular campaign,'' incoming chief of staff Reince Priebus said.

Trump enters critical week as hacking questions swirl, team blames…

Donald Trump and his aides are entering a crucial week in his presidential transition as he and his Cabinet nominees undergo public questioning about their approach to Russia and potential conflicts of interests. Most pressing during the upcoming days of confirmation hearings and Trump's first press conference in six months likely will be whether he accepts the conclusion of U.S. intelligence officials that Russia meddled in the U.S. election to help him win the White House.

McConnell: Trump’s Russia hopes will quickly be dashed

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell predicted Sunday that any hopes President-elect Trump has to get along with the Russians and President Vladimir Putin will be "dashed pretty quickly" into his first term in office. Appearing on "Face The Nation," McConnell argued that it is not unusual for a new president to seek an improved relationship with the Russians, citing former President George W. Bush's efforts upon taking office in 2000.

Several Donald Trump picks’ ethics reviews incomplete

Republicans are intent on getting as many of Trump's choices through the arduous confirmation process as quickly as possible. Several of President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet choices have not completed a full review to avoid conflicts of interest, the government's ethics office says, even as Republican senators move quickly to hold at least nine confirmation hearings next week.

With weak leadership in DC, look for more federalism

WASHINGTON Before the election, conventional wisdom had the GOP coming apart, had the Tea Party at war with traditional Republicans, and had fiscal hawks battling social conservatives. After the election, it was the Democratic Party coming apart, losing an election to a reality TV star and losing touch with blue-collar white voters, once the core of Democratic support.

Finance, energy industry helped finance GOP takeover –

Republicans will take over the Kentucky legislature next week with the help of millions of dollars in contributions from the finance and energy industries. Republican House candidates and committees received more than $8 million in contributions for the 2016 election cycle, according to an analysis of disclosure reports by The Associated Press.

Claiming mandate, GOP Congress lays plans to propel sweeping conservative agenda

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks at a Dec. 8, 2016 ceremony where the official portrait of U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was unveiled in the Kennedy Caucus Room on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks at a Dec. 8, 2016 ceremony where the official portrait of U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was unveiled in the Kennedy Caucus Room on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. For six years, since they took back the House of Representatives, Republicans have added to a pile of legislation that moldered outside the White House. In their thwarted agenda, financial regulations were to be unspooled.

GOP on taxes: Cut rates, brackets but what about the deficit

Congressional Republicans are planning a massive overhaul of the nation's tax system next year, a heavy political lift that could ultimately affect families at every income level and businesses of every size. Their goal is to simplify a complicated tax code that rewards wealthy people with smart accountants, and corporations that can easily shift profits - and jobs - overseas.

Eugene Robinson:Who in the Gop will stand up to Trump?

President-elect Donald Trump's victory tour was more than just an opportunity to strut and preen around the country like a peacock with a comb-over. It was a warning to Republican leaders in Congress that Trump intends to be in charge -- and that there will be consequences if the party establishment does not fall in line.