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At the beginning of this year, House and Senate Republicans huddled together in Hershey, Pa., to plot strategy and temper expectations that the GOP could unilaterally move legislation over Democratic objections in the Senate. But hopes for a unified front faded during the year as the House and Senate GOP sparred over immigration policy, surveillance legislation and how to defund Planned Parenthood. Finally, House conservatives resorted to begging the Senate to change its arcane rules; senators are now studying whether such a proposal is feasible. ... Ryan is clearly seeking a do-over — Republican senators said that he emphasized to them that he would be a diligent communicator, pointing to his five Sunday show appearances this weekend as evidence he is serious about coordination. (Everett, 11/3)

In his years as House Budget Committee chairman, Ryan laid out spending blueprints that embraced ideas such as privatizing portions of Social Security, cutting Medicaid and converting Medicare to a voucher-based program — all of which provided fodder for Democratic attacks. Addressing reporters on Tuesday at his first news conference as speaker, Ryan said he would not shy away from presenting controversial policy prescriptions in an election year. ... The tax plans put forth by the 2016 GOP presidential nominees hew by and large to the principles Ryan has embraced in the past — reducing the number of income tax brackets, lowering rates, and eliminating loopholes and deductions. But Ryan’s ideas on reforming entitlement programs could prove more divisive. National front-runner Donald Trump, for instance, has pushed back on suggestions of major changes to Social Security and Medicare. (DeBonis, 11/3)

Despite a broad budget deal, the White House and congressional Republicans must resolve dozens of policy issues and spending fights if they are to avoid a holiday season government shutdown. Hot-button battles over Planned Parenthood, the environment and money for agencies like the IRS could still derail a must-do spending bill to keep the government running. (Taylor, 11/4)