Senator Mitch McConnell, riding high after a Republican sweep Tuesday that will see him promoted to majority leader, struck a conciliatory tone on Wednesday, suggesting that he would look for ways to work with President Obama and also send him bills to sign or veto.
“When the American people choose divided government, I don’t think that means they don’t want us to do anything,” Mr. McConnell said. “I want to first look for areas that we can agree on. There probably are some.”
The Republican from Kentucky said that gridlock could be ended by creating a Senate culture “that actually works.” He said that he had spoken to Mr. Obama and that there was mutual interest in talking further about legislation on trade and an overhaul of the tax system.
Mr. McConnell was realistic that it would be impossible to fully repeal the Affordable Care Act while Mr. Obama was president but said that there were pieces of the law that he hoped to dismantle.
On immigration, Mr. McConnell said that any unilateral action by Mr. Obama “poisons the well” on any potential agreement and that he hoped the president would not follow that course of action.
Mr. McConnell faced a tough campaign against Alison Lundergan Grimes, his Democratic opponent, but ultimately beat her handily.
As leader of the Senate, Mr. McConnell said that he would use the budget approval process to try to rein in Mr. Obama.
“We will use the power of the purse to push back against this overactive bureaucracy,” Mr. McConnell said, noting that there would be no moves to shut down the government or threaten a default on its debt.