Jeffords split with GOP could hamper Bush agenda

May 24, 2001
Web posted at: 6:48 a.m. EDT (1048 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) --Vermont Sen. James Jeffords' expected exit from the Republican Party on Thursday is likely to limit President Bush's ability to move an ambitious agenda through Congress, observers said.

Jeffords is expected to announce Thursday that he is leaving the GOP to become an independent, which would place the chamber -- currently split 50-50 -- in Democratic hands for the first time since 1994.

The move would put Democrats in charge of the Senate agenda and committees that will decide the fate of White House's big-ticket proposals to boost energy production and allow "faith-based" groups to receive federal funds for social services. Jeffords' move is likely to complicate the road for Bush's judicial nominees.

Jeffords' defection also will give Democrats more power to advance their own issues, such as reforming managed health care and establishing a prescription drug benefit for Medicare.

"Overall, I hope it brings President Bush and the administration closer to the center to negotiate with us and create a bipartisan government," said Connecticut Democrat Sen. Joseph Lieberman.

More on the impact

Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill downplayed Jeffords' defection Wednesday, noting that the tax cut compromise passed by a wide margin.

"As long as we put forward ideas that most of the American people believe in, we should be able to get their representatives to understand that they need to reflect what the people believe, not some independent relationship to a party," O'Neill said.

Jeffords has frequently bucked the GOP leadership and backed a scaled-back, $1.35 trillion version of Bush's signature tax cut that passed the Senate on Wednesday. His refusal to back the full $1.6 trillion cut that Bush supported led to criticism from fellow Republicans and a public White House snub.

Democratic strategist Peter Fenn called that a bad move.

"It was politically stupid, it was substantively stupid, and it was personally not the kind of kindler, gentler changing of the tone in Washington that the Bush rhetoric pushes forth," Fenn said.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Bush hopes the senator "will remain a Republican" but will be respectful of any decision Jeffords makes. Administration sources say Bush asked Jeffords point-blank whether his administration was to blame for his decision, and Jeffords told him no.

VIDEO CNN's Bill Delaney says U.S. Sen. Jim Jeffords, (R) Vermont, continues to draw voter support in light of his party change (May 23) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) U.S. Sen. Jim Jeffords is the center of a political storm as he considers leaving the Republican party. CNN's Jonathan Karl reports (May 23) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont is reported ready to leave the Republican Party. CNN's Jonathan Karl reports (May 22) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   PROFILE Jeffords: Pragmatist faces a political decision

But regardless of where blame falls, aides said the Bush strategy will need some retooling.

"We have an agenda to sell, and it's clear we need a brand new plan," a senior White House adviser told CNN.

Democrats, anticipating control of the Senate for the first time since 1994, went to the Republican leadership to start preliminary discussions on transition of power. Some had a hard time suppressing their elation.

"No longer will we see an agenda tilted to the far right," added Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh. "It will require people to hammer out a true consensus and compromise, and I think that will be good for America."

Jeffords has been a Republican for 27 years in Congress, including 14 years in the House of Representatives. He is chairman of the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and holds a seat on the Finance Committee.

His expected switch overshadowed Wednesday's Senate vote on taxes and the House's passage of Bush's education reform bill.

The announcement was put off for a day as moderate Republicans asked Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, to create a new moderate leadership position in the Republican Party to keep Jeffords from leaving. A spokesman for Lott said he did indeed authorize Republican moderates to offer Jeffords that position.

Lott cautioned Wednesday that until Jeffords' switch "is final, it's not final."

Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter said Jeffords told him he would "have to think about it." But when asked by CNN following that meeting whether he would change his mind, Jeffords replied, "I don't think so."

Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, a conservative Republican, said Jeffords has been able to win concessions from the GOP as a moderate and would be unlikely to hold that leverage if he bolts the party.

"He may lose some effectiveness as an independent," Sessions said.