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Title: Dems screw newest member; Specter Will Be Junior on Committees...
Source:
ROLLCALL
URL Source: http://www.rollcall.com/news/34648-1.html
Published: May 5, 2009
Author: By John Stanton
Post Date: 2009-05-05 22:53:00 by HAPPY2BME-4UM
Keywords: SPECTER, GOP, REPUBLICAN
Views: 951
Comments: 25
By John Stanton Despite promises from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) that Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.) would retain his seniority after switching parties, Specter will be put at the end of the seniority line on all his committees but one under a resolution on the floor late Tuesday. Under the modified organizing resolution, Specter will not keep his committee seniority on any of the five committees that he serves on and will be the junior Democrat on all but one — the chamber’s Special Committee on Aging. On that committee, he will be next to last in seniority. As a result, Specter — who as a Republican was ranking member on the Judiciary Committee and a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, as well as ranking member of the panel’s Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education — will now rank behind all the other Democrats, at least until the end of this Congress. According to a senior Democratic aide, it remains unclear whether Specter — who will still retain his seniority in the Senate outside of the committees — will see a boost in his committee seniority should he be re-elected for the next session. The status of his seniority for the next Congress will be determined once the 112th Congress convenes in 2011, the aide said. Democrats said that while unrelated, Specter’s comments to the New York Times Magazine this weekend indicating he would support former Sen. Norm Coleman’s (R-Minn.) disputed re-election bid against Al Franken have angered many Democrats. “Sen. Specter better watch comments like these. They won’t help him in the caucus,” a Democratic leadership aide said, adding that the comments have “caused a lot of heartburn in the caucus.”
Specter Will Be Junior Democrat on Committees
May 5, 2009, 8:55 p.m.
Roll Call Staff 
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#4. To: HAPPY2BME-4UM (#0)
“Sen. Specter better watch comments like these. They won’t help him in the caucus,” a Democratic leadership aide said, adding that the comments have “caused a lot of heartburn in the caucus.” Unrelated my ass. That is exactly why Specter's promise of seniority wasn't kept. But, he is such an insufferably arrogant shitbag that I'm glad the DEMs stuck it to him. And, I hope a Dem primaries him in PA, wins the primary and loses the election to a Republican for Specter's seat! That way there will be no way to avoid the conclusion that Specter shot himself in the ass!
Didn't they do the same thing to Jeffords when he switched? Isn't that why he went Independent?
Jeffords never became a DEM nor did he ever cross them as far as I know. In fact, he made a deal with the DEMs that was very accommodating, one that allowed him to hold committee seats just as if he had the seniority of a lifelong DEM in exchange for the pledge to vote with the party except by special leave of the party leadership. I believe that he is also permitted to caucus w/ DEMs which is mutually beneficial-they know where he stands and he can input on pending bills while remaining an "IINO"
Somehow I'm just not sure that's what the Founders had in mind.
I'm guessing that they'd take the necessary steps to absolutely prevent the disease of career political incumbency. And, they'd make recalling a rep, senator and president as easy as collecting the signatures and paying a .01 per page (limit 1000 signatures per page) filing fee.
There are no replies to Comment # 17. End Trace Mode for Comment # 17.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestDemocrats said that while unrelated, Specter’s comments to the New York Times Magazine this weekend indicating he would support former Sen. Norm Coleman’s (R-Minn.) disputed re-election bid against Al Franken have angered many Democrats.
#12. To: HOUNDDAWG (#4)
#14. To: farmfriend (#12)
Didn't they do the same thing to Jeffords when he switched? Isn't that why he went Independent?
#15. To: HOUNDDAWG (#14)
pledge to vote with the party
#17. To: IndieTX (#15)
Somehow I'm just not sure that's what the Founders had in mind.
Replies to Comment # 17.