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Both President Obama and Republican leaders in the 114th Congress have pledged to work together on issues of common interest in 2015. Theyve promised that while they will inevitably disagree on many things, there are general areas in which both parties want to get something done and ought to be able to work together.

Yet Vice President Joe Biden hadnt even finished swearing in the new crop of senators on Tuesday when the White House issued its first veto threat demonstrating that while there may be areas of mutual interest, the Democratic president and the Republican Congress remain far apart on details.

Related: Keystone Could Prove the Power of Obamas Veto Pen

Both Obama and congressional leaders agree that the U.S. needs to continue developing new sources of energy. But Republicans first legislative offering this January is expected to be a bill to approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. On Tuesday afternoon, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest promised that if the bill makes it to the White House, the president would veto it.

Yes, both sides want to develop new energy projects but theyre miles apart on which ones.

When Obama sits down with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to discuss some other areas that may be ripe for cooperation, such as tax reform, immigration reform, or trade deals, they may run into a similar buzz saw.

REUTERS/Larry Downing U.S. President Barack Obama makes a statement to the media in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington April 17, 2014. Obama spoke about U.S. healthcare, as well as the political situation in Ukraine.

Ross Baker, a Rutgers University political scientist and expert on Congress, said, There are dozens of policy areas in general where, under the right circumstances, the ability exists to bring Democrats and Republicans together with the possible exception of gun control. But when you get down into the details, you run into trouble, he said.

Related: Governors Join Obama in Infrastructure Spending Plea

Immigration reform is a case in point, he said. A Republican immigration reform bill that includes beefed up border security, more sophisticated identification and immigration status technology, and upgraded and expanded visa and agricultural labor programs is entirely possible. But when you get to things like a path to citizenship, everything breaks down.

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Obama Threatens Keystone Veto Before Congress Is Sworn In