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November 14, 2002
Who's in Control Around Here, Anyway?
I think I've finally figured out what's going in in the Lame Duck Session of the Senate.
Okay, let's see... The Senate was aligned 50 Repubs, 50 Dems before Jeffords became an 'independent'. But because he voted with the Democratic Caucus, the Dems got control of the Senate comittee chairmanships. So that left the Senate with 49 Repubs, 50 Dems, and 1 Independent.
Now, in the meantime, Jean Carnahan was appointed for a two year term since her husband was elected posthumously in 2000 and was unable to take office. Her "relection" campaign was not really a re-election at all, but a special election, with the victor eligible to take office immediately.
Introduce Senator Wellstone's untimely death, and his temporary replacement with a second Independent candidate, Senator Barkley.
Okay, now the election take place, and Senator Carnahan of Missouri loses to Repub. Jim Talent.
Work the numbers and you get 50 Repubs, 48 Dems, and 2 Independents.
So, because Talent defeated Carnahan in Missouri, the Republicans thought that they would have a clear majority in the Senate during the Lame-Duck Session, even if both of the Independents voted for the Democratic Caucus.(The result from such a vote would have been a 50-50 tie with VP Cheney as the tie-breaker).
But, in order for Talent to take office immediately, his election results have to be certified by the Democratic Governor of Missouri, which has not happened. So, for as long as the Missouri Governor uses stalling tactics, and for as long as Senator Barkley from Minnesota agrees to stay Independent, the Dems will retain control of the Committee chairs throughout the Lame Duck Session.
This article does as good a job as any at explaining the situation:
http://www.hillnews.com/news/110602/talent.shtm
Posted by crandal at November 14, 2002 09:30 AM