House Republicans will have subpoena power over the majority and control of powerful committees — and plan to make investigations into the Biden administration a top priority. On the legislative front, there will be a number of policy issues that must pass — such as funding the government — that will test the ability of Republicans and Democrats to work together. Check out some of their designs: Investigations: House Republicans are considering possible probes into everything from the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, the border policies overseen by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, the FBI’s investigation into Mar-a -Lago, business dealings involving President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, and bureaucratic decision-making behind Covid-related school closings and vaccine mandates. House Republicans may also use their majority to push a counter-narrative around the Jan. 6, 2021, attack in an effort to deflect blame from former President Donald Trump after a violent mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol. Even before the party won a majority in the House, some of the investigative groundwork laid by Republican officials was beginning to pay off. A federal judge in Louisiana, for example, ordered the removal of an FBI cybersecurity official in a lawsuit alleging the FBI forced social media companies to block stories about Hunter Biden’s laptop before the 2020 election. The FBI filing is one of several sought by state Republican officials in a lawsuit that accuses Biden officials of effectively enforcing government censorship by pushing social media companies to, among other things, police speech about the origins of the virus that causes the Covid-19. effectiveness of face masks and health care measures aimed at limiting the spread of the virus, as well as claims about electoral integrity and the security of postal voting. It’s not yet clear how far House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy is willing to go when it comes to the Jan. 6 and 2020 presidential elections. And some Republicans argue the party would be better served if they skip 2020. GOP legislative agenda amid narrow majority: The president can veto legislation, but House Republicans will still be able to advance some messaging bills that emphasize their agenda. In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with CNN two days before the midterm elections, McCarthy outlined his plans for office, which include tackling inflation, rising crime and border security — three issues that have become central for the Republicans. McCarthy also left the door open to possible impeachment proceedings, which some of his members have already begun calling for. During a private party meeting Monday ahead of the leadership election, McCarthy vowed to wrest power from Democrats, pledging to expel Minnesota Democrat Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee and California representatives. Eric Swalwell and Adam Schiff of House Intelligence. Committee, according to a source in the room. But the slim Republican majority will stand in the way of most – if not all – of their priorities in the chamber. McCarthy’s allies recently tried to persuade moderate Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas to switch parties in hopes of closing their narrow margins, according to two sources familiar with the discussion. Cuellar flatly rejected the idea.
