( CNN ) This week , Republicans will take over the Senate , thanks to the American people 's overwhelming support in the 2014 elections , and our first priority for the next two years will be alleviating the economic pain the American people have experienced under the Obama administration . More than five years after the recession officially ended , too many Americans are still feeling the pinch . Wages have remained stagnant , and median household income has dropped almost $ 3,000 on the President 's watch . Meanwhile , prices for everything from groceries to education have risen . And instead of helping , most of the administration 's policies have had a negative impact on the economy . Just last week we learned from an employer survey that a majority of small businesses say that Obamacare has reduced their profits , causing many of them to freeze or cut workers ' wages or reduce other benefits . Despite all this , this week the President will be conducting a campaign-style tour in an attempt to claim credit for the sliver of positive economic news we 're finally seeing after six bleak years under his policies . Unfortunately , the President 's attempted victory lap ca n't disguise the fact that our economy is still nowhere near where it should be . But there is reason to be hopeful . The new Republican majority will get right to work on job-creating legislation , starting with legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline , which the President 's own State Department has admitted will support more than 42,000 jobs during construction . Keystone XL enjoys bipartisan support in both houses of Congress , and I hope the President will finally sign off on this job-creating project . Republicans will also take up two other bipartisan jobs measures that were stuck in the Democrat-led Senate for far too long . We are committed to repealing the job-killing Obamacare medical device tax , a tax on life-saving medical devices like pacemakers and insulin pumps . This tax has already eliminated thousands of jobs in the medical device industry , and it 's on track to eliminate thousands more if it is n't repealed . Given the economic stagnation of the past six years , the last thing our economy needs is a tax that is eliminating thousands of jobs . Republicans will also work to repeal the Obamacare provision that changed the definition of full-time employment from 40 hours a week to 30 hours . This provision has forced countless businesses to cut back on hiring or reduce workers ' hours and wages , which has meant fewer jobs and opportunities for American workers . Eliminating this provision has bipartisan support , and Republicans look forward to taking it up this year . In addition to passing job-creating legislation , Republicans will also make oversight a priority in the new Congress . Executive branch agencies have run amok over the past few years , and it 's time to rein them in . The Obama Environmental Protection Agency , to name just one agency , has proposed regulations that would drive Americans ' energy prices through the roof and result in the loss of tens of thousands , if not hundreds of thousands , of American jobs . It is long past time for Congress to assert its oversight authority to protect Americans , particularly those who can least afford it , from this kind of executive overreach . While we hope to work with Democrats as much as possible , the new Republican majority will not hesitate to draw bright lines between Democrat and Republican priorities . Republicans are committed to fundamental reforms , like transforming our tax code to make it simpler and fairer , cutting job-killing regulations and passing trade promotion authority so American goods can compete on an even playing field internationally . Republicans are going to get Washington working for Americans again . Under our control , the Senate will return to regular order , which means bills will be considered out in the open in committees before coming to the Senate floor , and all senators , regardless of party , will have a chance to propose and debate amendments . Over the past few years of Democrat control in the Senate , too often the minority party was shut out of the legislative process , leading to dysfunction and gridlock . Under Republican control , the Senate will get back to work . Creating jobs and encouraging economic growth should be bipartisan priorities , and we look forward to working with Democrats on everything from repealing the job-killing medical device tax to approving the job-creating Keystone XL pipeline . We hope Democrats and the President will join us .
Sen. John Thune : New GOP majority in Senate will focus on boosting economy . He predicts action on Keystone pipeline , ending medical device tax .