Week ahead: Senate ramps up work on ObamaCare repeal; Nominees on hot seat

Lawmakers have a busy week ahead with the Senate set for votes on their ObamaCare repeal budget and a slew of confirmation hearings for President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees.

Republicans in their first week back hit the ground running on their promise to repeal ObamaCare. Senators began debating a budget resolution that would allow for repeal with floor votes likely in the coming week.

Lawmakers are using reconciliation, a budget tool to repeal much of the law. That maneuver would allow it to pass the upper chamber with only 51 votes.

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The path to repeal won’t be easy though. Senators could face a “vote-a-rama” on Wednesday as Democrats try to slow down passage of the budget resolution with a number of amendments.

Dems want to put Republicans on the record over ObamaCare’s many provisions as both sides look for an edge in the messaging battle.

There are also growing concerns within the GOP about the plan to repeal the health law while delaying a replacement. A number of Republican senators in recent days have warned against repeal without a replacement plan on deck, fearing it could send insurers running.

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), though, has promised Republicans will propose a replacement plan within a year.

ObamaCare repeal isn’t the only item keeping lawmakers busy.

Republicans want to have Trump’s Cabinet picks confirmed and ready to start working when he is sworn in on Jan. 20th.

Wilbur Ross, Trump’s pick for Commerce secretary, will testify before the Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday, Jan. 12 at 10:00 a.m.

Ross, a billionaire, is chairman and chief strategist of private-equity firm W.L. Ross & Co., and was one of Trump’s earliest supporters.

Ben Carson, Trump’s pick for Housing and Urban Development secretary, will testify before the Senate Banking Committee at the same time on Thursday.

The former chief of one of the country’s biggest companies will also be on the hot seat Wednesday. Former Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson, Trump’s pick for secretary of State, will be before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Tillerson could face tough questions on his companies business dealings with Russia and the perception that he is personally close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It’s still unclear when Congress will hold a confirmation for Steven Mnuchin, Trump’s pick for Treasury.

Mnuchin could face a heated hearing. Democrats have ramped up their criticism of Mnuchin in recent days, hitting him over his tenure as head of California-based OneWest Bank. While he was the chairman and CEO, OneWest oversaw over 36,000 foreclosures.

A spokesperson for Mnuchin, though, says he’s ready to defend his record at One West before Congress.

Beyond the Capitol, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue will speak on the “State of American Business” on Wednesday morning. Donohue will outline the business lobby’s “jobs, growth and opportunity agenda.”

Business groups have high hopes for the Trump administration and the GOP-controlled Congress which have made rolling back regulations a centerpiece of their agenda.

Your week ahead:

Wednesday:

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue speech on the “State of American Business,” 9:30 a.m. http://uscham.com/2hZlgCY. 

Thursday:

• Senate Banking Committee: Confirmation hearing for Ben Carson, nominee for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 10 a.m. http://bit.ly/2iN2hxm.
• Senate Commerce Committee: Confirmation hearing for Wilbur Ross, nominee for Secretary of Commerce, 10 a.m. http://bit.ly/2iKOMAC.

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