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ByEricaWerner The Associated Press WASHINGTON Optimis- tic Republicans assumed full control of Congress on Tuesday for the first time in eight years in a day of pomp, circumstance and raw politics beneath the Capitol Dome. Before the new Con- gress was two hours old, a veto showdown with Pres- ident Barack Obama was set as the White House an- nounced he would reject legislation approving the long-stalled Keystone XL pipeline, which Republicans intend to advance. "Hard work awaits," said the new Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. "I'm really opti- mistic about what we can accomplish." House Speaker John Boehner, who faced down a tea party challenge and won re-election Tuesday by his colleagues, said the GOP will seek Obama's sup- port for measures on jobs, energy and veterans. "It will be a sign the logjam is breaking," Boehner de- clared. At the White House, Obama congratulated the pair and said he was look- ing forward to working with them. "There are going to be areas where we disagree, and there will be some pitched battles, but I'm also confident that there are enormous areas of po- tential agreement," Obama said. "I wish them well and I think we're going to hopefully have a produc- tive 2015." As the first snowfall of the winter blanketed Wash- ington, Congress convened at noon as required by the Constitution. On the Senate floor, new- comers mixed with veterans as Vice President Joe Biden swore in senators in groups of four. McConnell ascended to majority leader, his eleva- tion endorsed by rank-and- file Republicans last year af- ter they won control of the chamber from the Demo- crats. Across the Capitol in the House, a similar scene un- folded as familiar faces and new ones crowded the aisles and lawmakers of both par- ties recited the Pledge of Al- legiance. But in the House, there was an element of suspense as Boehner faced a tea party-backed effort to unseat him. It came up short, but the 25 defections was a his- torically high number for a sitting House speaker. It served notice that the con- servative faction that has been a thorn in Boehner's side for the past two ses- sions of Congress will not fall quiet during the new one despite the GOP's big- ger control. Seeking unity despite the internal party dissension, the GOP moved swiftly to advance the Keystone XL pipeline, setting votes in a Senate committee and on the House floor for later this week. After months of equiv- ocating, the White House announced Tuesday that Obama would not sign the bill. Spokesman Josh Ear- nest said there is a "well- established" review pro- cess that is being run by the State Department that should not be undermined by legislation. "If this bill passes this Congress, the president wouldn't sign this bill," Earnest said. It was a preview of things to come as both sides posi- tioned themselves for two years of clashes and, per- haps, occasional coopera- tion that will help shape the outcomes of the 2016 presidential and congres- sional elections. Obama planned to meet with the new congressional leaders at the White House next week. McConnell replaces Dem- ocrat Harry Reid of Nevada, who was a surprise no-show from the day's proceedings after he injured himself ex- ercising. Reid, who broke several ribs and bones in his face when a piece of equipment snapped last week, said his doctor had ordered him to work from home Tuesday. A photo Reid posted to Twit- ter showed him with his right eye taped over as he met with lawmakers. His office also disclosed that he had suffered a concussion in the accident. FIRST TIME IN EIGHT YEARS GOP takes charge as new Congress convenes J.SCOTTAPPLEWHITE‑THEASSOCIATEDPRESS House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio arrives on the House floor on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, at the opening session of the 114th Congress a er he was re‑elected to his leadership post. Boehner won a third term despite a tea party‑backed effort by Rep. Louie Gohmert, R‑Texas, center le , to unseat him with 25 Republicans voting for other candidates or voting present. By David Klepper and Jonathan Lemire The Associated Press NEW YORK Former Gov. Mario Cuomo's legacy as a liberal leader, powerful or- ator and immigrant's son whose humble upbringing inspired his approach to public service were cham- pioned at his funeral Tues- day by an inarguable heir to his example — Gov. Andrew Cuomo, his son. "At his core, he was a phi- losopher. He was a poet. He was an advocate. He was a crusader. Mario Cuomo was the keynote speaker for our better angels," the younger Cuomo said in a eulogy that spanned his father's biggest speeches to his fierce com- petitiveness on the basket- ball court. The former three-term governor — who flirted with but never made a presiden- tial run and turned down an opportunitytobe nominated for the U.S. Supreme Court — was a humanist whose politics were part-and-par- cel of his beliefs, not strate- gies for pleasing people, the younger Cuomo said. He was, Andrew Cuomo said, "anything but a typi- cal politician." Dignitaries, including Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton, Attorney General Eric Holder and Mayor Bill de Blasio, gathered to mourn the 82-year-old Democratic Party icon who died Thursday, hours after his son was inaugurated for a second term. Pallbearers at St. Igna- tius Loyola Church included Cuomo's younger son, CNN newscaster Chris Cuomo; some of Cuomo's daughters read Bible passages. On Monday, hundreds waited in a line that stretched more than a block to pay their respects at Cuo- mo's wake. Vice President Joe Biden, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and ac- tor Alan Alda were among those who paid tribute. As governor from 1983 to 1994, Cuomo was recog- nized for his eloquence and for powerful appeals for so- cial justice that blended lib- eral ideals with his life ex- perience as the son of an Italian immigrant grocer. And he was known for his deliberations over run- ning for president, which earned him the nickname "Hamlet on the Hudson." He came close to running in 1988 and 1992 but de- cided not to. MARIO CUOMO FUNERAL Go v. C uo mo e ul og iz es f at he r Thank you! PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER. By Ken Ritter The Associated Press LAS VEGAS The only Ne- vada lawmaker ever ex- pelled from the state Legis- lature was sentenced Tues- day in Las Vegas to up to three years' probation and given a chance to have his felony conviction for re- sisting arrest reduced to a misdemeanor in a Feb- ruary 2013 domestic vio- lence case. Steven Brooks, 42, also was ordered to undergo 24 sessions of mental health counseling as part of a plea deal that avoided trial in two felony cases, prosecu- tor Richard Scow said. The former Democratic assemblyman didn't speak in court. There was no men- tion of his first-come-first- served Christmas Eve dis- tribution of about 350 pine trees left from an attempt to sell trees to raise money for a nonprofit entity he heads called Freedom Enhance- ment Academy. Clark County District Court Judge Kerry Earley told Brooks he faces up to three years in state prison if he violates probation. Brooks also is expected to get probation Thursday in a separate felony fire- arms case. It stems from his January 2013 arrest while driving a state-is- sued car with a .357-cali- ber revolver in a shoe box after North Las Vegas po- lice were told he threat- ened to harm Democratic Assembly leader Marilyn Kirkpatrick. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Ex-Nevada lawmaker gets probation Get thesteak you'veb eam gab t GAMING•DINING•LODGING GOLF•EVENTCENTER•EQUESTRIAN isatthe Community Center this year! 1500 Jackson Street SAT JAN 10 • 5:00 PM Needtickets? linda@thecrabfeed.com 530.824.6410 for credit card transactions: www.supportmercynorth.org Don'tForget! St. Elizabeth Auxiliary Volunteers' CRAB FEED Corning's Annual Community Resource Guide N EWS D AILY RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 PublishDate:Thursday,January29,2015 2015 10% OFF your ad in each section when you buy an ad in Corning 2015 & Red Bluff 2015 Corning is on the map! 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