James Jeffords: U.S. Senate Gets Ready for Power Shift
Unprecedented in U.S. history, the balance of power in the Senate shifts due to the defection of a senator from one of the major parties.
James Jeffords’ decision to leave the Republican party was the hottest news last week, but now in the aftermath, the shifting of power will become official as Democrats have miraculously wrested control of the U.S. Senate from the GOP.
As President Bush now faces a serious threat to a rather conservative agenda for the first time, he invited a bi-partisan group to the White House to discuss his education reform package. Included in the meeting were 4 Democrats, 4 Republicans, and the newly-independent Jeffords, who has been outspoken on the need for reform. Tom Daschle, the former Senate minority leader who will switch roles shortly to become the majority leader, will have dinner with the president at the White House on Thursday and has noted that, "We have to reach out and try to be as inclusive as possible. I want to give Republicans an opportunity to press the Bush agenda, but I would hope they would respect our desire to move a Democratic agenda."
Perhaps more interesting will be the hearings for Bush’s judicial nominees, many of whom have made Democrats antsy because of their conservative views. The power switch in the Senate, however, will probably force some reconsideration on Bush’s part, with the more conservative selections dropped in favor of moderates.
As President Bush now faces a serious threat to a rather conservative agenda for the first time, he invited a bi-partisan group to the White House to discuss his education reform package. Included in the meeting were 4 Democrats, 4 Republicans, and the newly-independent Jeffords, who has been outspoken on the need for reform. Tom Daschle, the former Senate minority leader who will switch roles shortly to become the majority leader, will have dinner with the president at the White House on Thursday and has noted that, "We have to reach out and try to be as inclusive as possible. I want to give Republicans an opportunity to press the Bush agenda, but I would hope they would respect our desire to move a Democratic agenda."
Perhaps more interesting will be the hearings for Bush’s judicial nominees, many of whom have made Democrats antsy because of their conservative views. The power switch in the Senate, however, will probably force some reconsideration on Bush’s part, with the more conservative selections dropped in favor of moderates.
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