Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Specter Loses Seniority

Heh. 

Arlen Specter was in the driver’s seat when the Senate Judiciary Committee grilled the two newest Supreme Court justices back in 2005, but the Pennsylvania senator won’t be front and center next time.

Specter jumped from the Republican party to the Democratic party last week, putting the Democrats within reach of a 60-seat “supermajority” that could make it all but impossible for Republicans to block Democratic legislation.

On Tuesday the Senate confirmed that the party switch dropped him to the bottom of the heap in terms of seniority.

[...]

Specter lost his seniority on other committees as well, including the powerful Appropriations Committee — the one that doles out money. He’s now junior to Montana’s Sen. Jon Tester, who has been in the Senate since 2007.

(5) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1200 hrs
Politics + Politics - General

  1. He’ll get back all of his seniority if he wins re-election in 2010.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 06, 2009 at 1217 hrs


  2. They’ll have to give it back to him so he doesn’t switch parties again.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 06, 2009 at 1631 hrs


  3. He is not going to get anything back. He is just a placeholder if he wins or loses the next election. He just wanted to survive and it appears he has-for the moment.

    Restoring his chairmanship is a card Obama, or the Dems can play later if they really, really, really need his vote on more than one issue.

    It was really great that W campaigned for him, last time around. Another case of misplaced Bush loyalty.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 06, 2009 at 1706 hrs


  4. At least he’ll move up the food chain one notch once Franken is officially seated.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 06, 2009 at 1847 hrs


  5. Spector got played. I don’t think he cares that much - since he’s willing to do anything to stay in the Senate, they can treat him like dirt.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 06, 2009 at 2212 hrs


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