One day after GOP candidates gave their party control of both chambers of Congress, Senate Majority Leader-elect Mitch McConnell holds a 2 p.m. ET news conference.
We'll update this post with news from McConnell's appearance in Louisville.
Update at 2:15 p.m. ET: Energy, Relevance, And Obama
Saying that one priority for the Congress should be working on energy issues, McConnell adds that other areas of possible progress include international trade agreements and tax reform.
"What's exporting jobs is having the highest corporate tax rate in the industrialized world."
He adds that he has spoken to President Obama about the issue.
"There's only one Democrat who counts: the president," McConnell says, responding to a question about possible pushback on deals in Congress.
He also says that some prominent Democrats have called him to say they're ready for the Senate to be relevant again.
Update at 2:08 p.m. ET: 'Senate Needs To Be Fixed'
McConnell says voters "were obviously not satisfied" with the direction of the White House agenda — and he adds that they were also not happy with the dysfunction that has kept Washington from getting things done.
The senator says he received several phone calls, from fellow leaders ranging from President Obama to Sen. Ted Cruz.
McConnell then lists many previous divided governments, and their accomplishments. He says, "from an institutional view, the Senate needs to be fixed."
He goes on to add that the Senate doesn't hold many votes. And he adds that some votes will soon be held on Fridays — something he says hasn't happened lately.
McConnell said he would "open things up" and permit amendments on both sides — and to be willing to work late into the night to reach a deal.
Our original post continues:
The Republican Party's gains in the 2014 midterm elections led NPR's Ron Elving to conclude, "We need a new term for the midterm mojo that once again struck the president and his party last night."
You can review NPR's election night coverage at our archive page.
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