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Change is the only constant in the Senate…By CJP | January 13, 2009
All of this means that between 2006 and 2010, we will have at least 30 new members of the Senate and essentially a new generation of leadership in a legislative body where power has always been accrued through longevity and loyalty. How does that affect you? For one, check the seniority of your go team right now. Alaskans may notice a tidy dip in federal spending next year now that they’ve replaced Ted Stevens, a former chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, with Mark Begich, who is 98th in seniority (one ahead of Roland Burris!). Bridges to anywhere in Alaska might be few and far between for a while. Time will reveal other changes, Janes, but we’ll keep an eye on it… |
The changes coming to the White House are pretty obvious, but let’s take a moment to note the incredible turnover in the U.S. Senate right now. Nine new senators joined the Senate as freshmen two weeks ago, on top of 10 freshmen from the 110th Congress. Today, one Senate seat still remains undecided in Minnesota, while  four vacancies loom when Senators Obama, Clinton, Salazar and Biden join the Administration (or become the Administration, as the case may be). Additionally, four sitting senators, all Republicans, have announced they will retire from the Senate in 2010.| ‹ Back | Next › |
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