Republicans Convene on Capitol Hill to Take Over House

The new session of Congress will see the Republicans attempt to dismantle Obama’s health care legislation and find ways to deal with ballooning debt.

Republicans take control of the U.S. House of Representatives today following their big gains in November’s midterm elections, but activity in the House this week will be largely symbolic, beginning with the reading of the Constitution aloud in the chamber (at the request of Tea Party leaders) and a vote Friday that will pave the way for a bill that would scrap Obamacare. That bill will likely never be enacted thanks to the Democrat-controlled Senate and Obama’s presidential veto, but in the coming months the GOP could use its House majority to cut off funding to the Democrat’s controversial health care reforms. Congress will also have to decide whether to raise the U.S. debt ceiling from $14 trillion.