As power shifts in Washington, McConnell says filibuster safe

A shift in the balance of power in Washington could help President-elect Donald Trump get more done during his final term.

Congress is set to make significant decisions on taxation, spending and the debt ceiling in January.

Trump beat Vice President Kamala Harris in Tuesday's presidential election, securing the votes needed in the Electoral College. Trump also leads Harris in the popular vote by about 5 million ballots, the first time he's won the popular vote.

The Republican-controlled Senate will be prepared to back Trump's agenda. The numbers in the Senate also could make Trump's efforts to add conservatives to the federal judiciary easier because such appointments require Senate approval.

While counting continues in some races, Republicans are poised to take control of the U.S. Senate for the first time in four years. The party remains ahead in the U.S. House, with 210 seats to Democrats 194. Republicans flipped six seats for a net gain of three. However, 20 races have not been called. Republicans need 8 more House seats to secure a majority, while the Democrats need 24.

Senate Republicans will have at least 52 seats next year. They could pad their majority to 53 or 54 seats depending on what happens in Senate races in Pennsylvania and Nevada.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, told reporters during a news conference Wednesday that he had wanted to hand over a majority to successor.

"I've been a minority leader and majority leader. The majority is a lot better," he said.

McConnell said he was confident that filibuster will remain in place. The filibuster requires 60 votes to overcome procedural objections in the Senate.

"I think one of the most gratifying results of the Senate becoming Republican, the filibuster will stand, there won’t be any new states admitted to give a partisan advantage to the other side, and we'll quit beating up the Supreme Court every time we don't like a decision they make,” McConnell said.

He said the filibuster serves as a guardrail.

"I think this shifting to a Republican Senate majority helps control the guardrails, keep people who want to change the rules in order to achieve something they think is worthwhile, not successful," he added.

Trump wanted Republicans to ditch the filibuster in 2018, when Republicans controlled both the House and Senate.

"I think the filibuster is very secure," McConnell said.

If the party is able to maintain a majority in the U.S. House, McConnell said that would help Trump's agenda in the coming term.

Congress has two big decision to make when seated in January.

First, lawmakers have to decide whether to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which set tax rates that are due to expire at the end of 2025. The measures to expire include a larger standard deduction, lower marginal income tax rates and a larger child tax credit. The expiration of the expanded tax credits could make way for negotiations between the parties on tax policy.

Congress will also once again face the federal debt limit, which will be reinstated at the outset of 2025.

Political brinkmanship over the debt limit has often been disruptive when Congress is divided.