Congress in 2015: What President Obama Can Expect from the GOP

The 114th Congress is now in session. U.S. President Barack Obama for the first time faces a Congress that has Republicans running both chambers.

What President Obama can expect from the GOP Congress in 2015 will matter to investors. Many issues on the agenda, such as corporate taxes, trade, and a higher minimum wage will impact stocks.

Given the gridlock of recent years, the easy assumption is that nothing will get done. But the two sides have more incentive to work together in 2015 than in years past.

Republicans want to prove that they actually have viable ideas for solving the nation's problems and aren't just the "party of no."

And the seesaw election results in recent years – with Democrats winning in 2008 and 2012 and the GOP in 2010 and 2014 – have instilled a healthy fear of the disgruntled American voter.

Though a lame duck, President Obama has the incentive of building up his legacy. But he's already signaled he won't be a pushover.

Yesterday (Tuesday) the White House threatened to veto two GOP priorities – construction of the controversial