Boehner elected Speaker of the House
WASHINGTON (AP) - The House majority voted to make Republican John Boehner of Ohio Speaker of the House Wednesday.
Boehner, of West Chester, said he and his fellow Republicans will tackle tough issues such as curbing spending that has sent the deficit soaring.
"No longer can we kick the can down the road," Boehner planned to tell his House colleagues. "The people voted to end business as usual, and today we begin carrying out their instructions."
But agreements on spending, deficit-reduction and dozens of other issues will prove difficult, as Democrats still control the Senate, and Obama retains his veto powers. House Republicans plan to vote within days to overturn Obama's 2010 health care overhaul, but they acknowledge it's a symbolic gesture because the Senate will not concur.
The new Senate also was scheduled to convene at midday, with Democrats clinging to a 53-47 edge.

























