|
||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senate to convene for lame-duck sessionBarkley won't caucus with Democrats or Republicans
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- One week after the midterm elections, the Senate is set to convene Tuesday for a lame-duck session -- with Democrats in control -- that's expected to focus on legislation creating a homeland security department. Democratic and Republican Senate leaders have said they are hopeful a compromise can be reached on the legislation, which has been stalled over the question of labor rights. Democrats will retain control of the Senate during the lame-duck session because independent Dean Barkley, appointed by Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura to fill out the remainder of the late Paul Wellstone's term, decided late Monday that he would not align himself with either Republicans or Democrats. "I am an independent, the governor who appointed me is an independent, and I believe the best way to serve the people of Minnesota is to remain an Independent," said Barkley in a written statement. Daschle and Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, each met with Barkley last week trying to woo him. Barkley said his decision to remain Independent is in part a tribute to Wellstone, killed in a plane crash October 25. "Senator Paul Wellstone, whose term I have been appointed to fulfill, was one of the most independent thinkers in the long history of the Congress. Rather than adding to the partisanship that so often characterizes Congress, I would like to focus on bridging differences and helping to move important legislation forward," said Barkley. Before the midterm elections, Democrats maintained control of the Senate, holding 50 seats and enjoying the support of Sen. James Jeffords, an independent from Vermont. With Wellstone's death, Democrats now hold 49 seats and still have the support of Jeffords. Republicans hold 49 seats. Though Democrats will have control during the lame-duck session, Republicans will soon be in the driver's seat. Before the end of the month, Rep. Jim Talent, R-Missouri, is expected to be sworn in to replace Sen. Jean Carnahan, a Missouri Democrat. Talent's swearing-in comes early because he won a special election. Republicans will control the Senate when the new session of Congress begins next year, holding at least 51 seats. Two races remain unresolved. In South Dakota, incumbent Democrat Tim Johnson has claimed victory over Republican John Thune, but the slim margin of about 500 votes could lead to a recount. And in Louisiana, Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Democrat, faces a runoff against Republican Suzanne Haik Terrell The outcome of those races won't affect the lame-duck session, which President Bush pressed for last week. The president cited the creation of a homeland security department -- which his administration had initially opposed -- as his top priority. The House has already passed its version of the bill, but the Senate has not yet resolved a dispute over how much flexibility the president would have in hiring, firing and transferring workers. Democrats say the administration wants to undermine workers' rights, but Republicans say the president needs greater authority to run the department as he sees fit. Barkley said Monday he does not know how he will come down on the labor-rights issue snarling the legislation. He said he is still reading the fine print of each party's proposal for how to deal with the collective bargaining rights of an estimated 170,000 federal employees in the new department. While there are several other issues the president said he wants to advance -- including tax cuts and action on various judicial appointments -- there remains some doubt about whether the Senate's lame-duck session will accomplish much beyond homeland security. "Lame duck sessions, as they go on, get more difficult, become acrimonious, cost money," Lott said over the weekend. --CNN Capitol Hill Producer Dana Bash contributed to this report .
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|