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Good morning.

Here’s what you need to know:

Making a conservative mark

• After passing their tax code rewrite last week, Republicans in Congress are focusing on programs for the poor that they say are too easily exploited.

The efforts follow what Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, called a year of “extraordinary accomplishment,” including the opening of oil drilling in the Arctic, the ending of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate and numerous judicial appointments.

“It has been more chaotic and more politicized than I would like,” said Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, “but we do have more accomplishments than I think we’re generally given credit for.”