There will be a mix of "confrontation" and "compromise" between Congress and President Barack Obama as Republicans take the majority in both the House and the Senate, Rep. Tom Cole told MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
"I think there'll be a mix of confrontation, occasionally, but compromise as well. If the president approaches it that way, he can have a very productive final two years," the Oklahoma Republican said Monday. "I think there's plenty of things out there, and I think there's things we can work with the president on."
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Cole anticipated lawmakers would "probably start off with the Keystone pipeline," and then move on to reform Obamacare, including redefining the 40-hour workweek and addressing the employer mandate. He also anticipated there would be a "return to regular order, in terms of appropriations bills."
Bipartisan agreement had already begun in the "very productive lame duck session" of Congress, Cole said, adding that "on big deals that are compromises, I think that coalition has already been outlined for us."
Cole said he was disappointed that Republican colleagues Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert and Florida Rep. Ted Yoho were challenging Speaker of the House John Boehner for his position.
"I don't think they are very serious," he said. "I find it, frankly, pretty unprofessional and very disappointing."
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