How does Specter's switch impact committee membership?

[Occam Bandage]

Right now, he's occupying a Republican seat in every committee in which he's a member. Will the Dems immediately reorganize the Senate, or will we drag our feet the same way Coleman's dragging his feet in Minnesota?

[dgibby]

1. I don't know,

but Joe Lieberman better tow the party line if he doesn't want Snarlin' Arlen to get his committees!

[tritsofme]

2. I say make a deal with Republicans.

Specter keeps all his committee assignments for this Congress (meaning one extra "D" one fewer "R" on his committees), or if they don't go for that we pursue a new organizing resolution that gives Dems more seats on all committees, immediately.

[karynnj]

3. Here's his assignments

Committee on Appropriations
< appropriations.senate.gov >
- Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies
- Defense
- Homeland Security
- Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
- State, Foreign Operations
- Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary, HUD & Related Agencies

Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, Ranking Member


Committee on the Judiciary, Ranking Member
< judiciary.senate.gov >
- Administrative Oversight and the Courts
- Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights
- Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights

Committee on Veterans' Affairs
< veterans.senate.gov >


Committee on Environment and Public Works


Special Committee on Aging
< aging.senate.gov >

I wonder if they legally can reorganize now or if that is just done once a Congress. We actually got cheated because so many seats were up in the air. With 60, we deserve more. The bigger question is whether he will be given a chair on anything. the problem is that involves taking it away from someone. He currently is ranking member of HELP, which Kennedy chairs - and there are high senority Democrats following him.

[MiniMe]

4. Per Reid, leadership of committees isn't up until the next congress

And Specter agreed to that. Leahey has seniority over Specter, so that wouldn't change. Specter does have seniority over Harkin. But Reid said that no committee leadership would change until the next congress.