| Senate Adopts Power Sharing Plan | |
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Dateline: 01/05/01
The United States Senate, split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, agreed today on an unprecedented plan to share power evenly in the several committees that work out specifics of proposed bills and are now considering President-Bush's nominations for top federal jobs.
By voice vote, Senators agreed that either the majority or minority leader can declare that a bill or nomination being held up in a committee by a tie vote be advanced to the floor of the Senate for consideration.
Senators hope the action
will help prevent future legislation from suffering political gridlock due to
the partisan divisions resulting from the 50-50 split of power.
After the Jan. 20 inauguration, Republicans will hold what is known as a
"nominal" majority in the Senate due to Vice President Dick Cheney's
tie-breaking 51st vote. Cheney, as Vice President, also serves as president of
the Senate, a position required to vote in the event of ties.
John Adams holds the all-time record for tie-breaking
votes in the Senate by a Vice President at 29, with John C. Calhoun close behind
at 28. "This resolution may haunt me, but it's fair and it allows us to go on
with the people's business," said Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott of
Mississippi. Lott will regain his spot as Senate Majority Leader on Jan. 20
after having served a temporary stint as Minority Leader during the 17 days Vice President Al Gore
presides over the 50-50 Senate sworn in January 3.
The Senate committees, like those in the House consider legislation, conduct
hearings and investigations, or carry out other assignments as instructed by the
Senate leadership. No bill or presidential nomination may be acted upon by the
full Senate until it has been approved by the committee considering it.
Additional "conference" committees are also chosen to work out
differences between Senate- and House-passed versions of bills. Current Standing Senate Committees:
Appropriations
Committee
Armed
Services Committee
Banking,
Housing, And Urban Affairs
Budget
Committee
Commerce,
Science, And Transportation Committee
Energy
And Natural Resources Committee
Environment
And Public Works Committee
Finance
Committee
Foreign
Relations Committee
Governmental
Affairs Committee
Judiciary
Committee
Health,
Education, Labor And Pensions Committee
Rules
And Administration Committee
Small
Business Committee
Veterans'
Affairs Committee
Indian
Affairs Committee
