The Republican party has taken over control of both the House of Representative and Senate for the first time in eight years, thanks to another term won for speaker John Boehner. Although 25 Republicans voted to oust the longtime speaker, Boehner survived the intense, intraparty turmoil he received from the more extreme branch of the GOP. Of course, already controlling the House and winning a much coveted Senate majority in last November’s midterm election certainly helped.

After Boehner pounded the gavel upon his fresh victory, he mentioned how he was looking forward to Republicans working with President Obama on old bills that have languished in recent years. At the same time, he was quick to jab at unnamed fellow reps who have dropped the ball with too much posturing and a lot of hollow talk.

The first order of business under the Republican’s newfound Congressional stronghold is to vote on the oft-tabled Keystone XL Pipeline initiative, which was the very first bill submitted today. Under a bipartisan Congress the last eight years, such a controversial issue could never find its way to Boehner’s desk. In response, the White House issued a statement saying that, should the Keystone legislation pass through a so called softer Senate, President Obama would veto the bill if it ever came his way. It would be his third time exercising veto power in the six and half years he has been in office.

According to White House spokesman Josh Earnest, the Obama administration feels the bill would undermine clearly delineated review process and failed to account for the ongoing legality in the state of Nebraska regarding pipeline routes. As it stands at this time, a lawsuit is over such a matter still persists.

Other priorities for the Republican party now that they have full congressional control do not so much include passing bills, but rather embattling stale ones President Obama has either successfully achieved, or tried to get passed. Aside from wanting to push for a big business trade deal, The GOP will be intent on repealing if not defunding the Obama administration’s Affordable Healthcare Act, often referred to as “Obamacare.”

Another point of contention for the GOP will surely be President Obama’s Immigration Reform initiative, which Boehner and company are set to quarrel over funding for. Much like Obama’s unilateral executive decision on Cuba, the republican is still quite angry over similar actions taken over immigration. Yet despite the friction, Senator Mitch McConnell has voiced his optimism about accomplishing the hard work that awaits. McConnell, who won reelection in his home state of Kentucky a couple of months ago, now assumes control of the still and ever divisive Senate.

Under new leadership, Obama will also likely tangle with issues taken from his own party. Left of center class warriors Bernie Sanders (Independent Vermont Senator) and Elizabeth Warren (newly elected Boston Senator) could apply pressure on Obama regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a mega 12-nation trade agreement that they argue grossly benefits major corporations at the expense of the American working class.