US Republicans to enjoy new clout, face pressure

Republicans forced to move on campaign agenda

* Accountable for improving economy, adding jobs

By Thomas Ferraro and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Republicans roared to victory in the November U.S. congressional elections by targeting President Barack Obama's fiscal policies and asking, "Where are the jobs?"

Once they take power from Obama's Democrats in the House of Representatives when the new Congress convenes on Jan. 5, they will be held accountable to answer this and other questions.

How will they keep their promise to cut federal spending and reduce the federal deficit? What will they do to pump new life into the sluggish economy still trying to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression? Will they raise the federal debt limit or threaten a government default?

"The problem Republicans face is that they'll be held responsible, and it's virtually impossible to meet the demands of the American people," said Paul Sracic, a political scientist at Youngstown State University in Ohio.

"The big issue is the economy but no one is predicting a rapid drop in the (U.S.) jobless rate," now at a stubbornly high 9.8 percent, Sracic said.

Republicans campaigned on promises to curb federal regulations, freeze the non-security federal workforce and reduce federal spending to 2008 levels, with exceptions for the elderly, the U.S. military and veterans. It is unclear whether any of these, even if enacted, would create any jobs in the short-run though.

Already sounding defensive, Republicans point out that they are not solely in charge, giving them limited power to turn the economy around.

"We will bring legislation to the House that is pro-growth legislation. But last I looked, Barack Obama was still president; last I looked, (Democrat) Harry Reid was still Senate majority leader. As we all know, our ability to actually pass laws is going to be somewhat constrained," said Jeb Hensarling, a conservative member of the House Republican leadership.

With the conservative Tea Party movement helping fan anti-establishment fire, scores of Democrats were thrown out of Congress in November. Voters gave Republicans a strong majority in the House and narrowed the Democrats' Senate majority to 53-47.

Still, a December Washington Post-ABC News poll showed Obama is trusted more than congressional Republicans -- 43 percent to 38 percent -- "to do a better job coping" with the nation's problems. That could help stiffen Democrats' resolve to block some Republican bills.

FINGER POINTING OR COMPROMISE?

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has already drawn fire for saying his top objective is to deny Obama a second term.

As Republicans tried blocking major Obama initiatives in the final days of last year's Congress, McConnell quipped to news service Politico, "If they think it's bad now, wait till next year."