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All Hail Senator James Jeffords!
Posted
05-29-2001
All hail Senator James Jeffords! He is a great American who puts his
convictions ahead of political affiliation. Senator Jeffords' widely
publicized move from the Republican Party to Independent and his seating
with the Democratic caucus has shifted the balance of power in the United
States Senate from the Republicans to the Democrats. Previously, the 50-50
split allowed Vice-President Dick Cheney to break ties. It also allowed the
Republicans to control the legislative agenda and chair committees.
Now, the Democrats will chair
committees and control the legislative agenda. This change is particularly
important because it should cause a more bipartisan effort in Washington.
Obviously, GW Bush didn't recognize that he received no mandate to govern.
He lost the popular vote by more than 500,000 votes. Yet, he pushed
right-wing extremists like Attorney General John Ashcroft, highly partisan
candidate for Solicitor General Ted Olson, and candidates for the federal
bench like right-wing California Congressman Chris Cox. Cox has already
withdrawn his name because now the Democrats will control the confirmation
process. Remember what the Republicans did to Bill Clinton's nominees for
the federal bench? We are still short two federal judges in western
Pennsylvania. Hopefully, the Democrats will ensure moderates are confirmed
for the federal bench and not folks with an extremist agenda.
More importantly, Senator
Jeffords' move should make the finished product of legislation less extreme.
From the proposed energy policy of drilling in the Arctic Reserve, to Bush's
memory lapse on a prescription plan for Medicare recipients, to a serious
Patient's Bill of Rights, we should see a more bipartisan finished product.
With a president that didn't win the popular vote, a slim majority in the US
House of Representatives and a 50-50 split in the Senate, one would have
thought the Republicans would have been more moderate. But they got greedy
and pushed the agenda of the conservative wing of their party. Fortunately,
there are moderate Republicans and one of them, James Jeffords couldn't take
it any longer.
Senator Jeffords comes from
Vermont, a very independent state. The state's history includes a number of
moderate Republicans who've represented Vermont in the Senate, and I think
Jeffords became increasingly alienated from the conservative agenda of Bush
and soon-to-be-former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott. They did little to
include moderates in shaping the Republican agenda, and we see the
consequence.
My guess is that the
Republicans will work hard to get a Democrat like Georgia Senator Zel Miller
or Montana Senator Max Baucus to defect. Hopefully, they'll be strong and
not cave in to what will probably be some enticing offers. Senator Jeffords
didn't switch because of an offer to head a committee or more pork for his
state. He left because he recognized a non-inclusive agenda wasn't best for
the country.
Conservatives somehow think
that they have a mandate to govern, and that simply isn't the case. Their
simplistic idea that tax cuts cures everything just won't solve the many
problems our nation faces. Unfortunately, we're all going to pay the price
when so many other issues like prescription drugs for seniors, strengthening
social security, and workforce development go unattended. Those other issues
are difficult and costly. It is easier to ignore them. Hopefully, with
leaders like Senator Jeffords, our federal elected officials will roll up
their sleeves and get down to work on solving the real problems facing our
nation. |
