With Republicans conceding they had lost control of the US Senate, Democrats moved quickly today to map out a legislative agenda after Senator James Jeffords upended the political status quo by quitting the Republican Party and becoming an independent.
Seeking issues with broad public support, Democratic leaders said that when they take control, probably within two weeks, they would complete the bipartisan education bill and then shift the agenda to their own priorities, which include bills to ease the energy problems in California.
Jeffords, a three-term senator from Vermont, announced his defection Thursday in Burlington, saying that he could no longer abide the increasingly conservative direction his party was taking under President George W. Bush.
"I understand that many people are more conservative than I am," he said, "and they form the Republican Party. Given the changing nature of the national party, it has become a struggle for our leaders to deal with me and for me to deal with them."
Jeffords's announcement touched off a soul-searching debate among Republicans in an emotional meeting this morning about whether their party has moved too far to the right and should now make a correction toward the middle. There was even talk of a challenge to the party leadership position of Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi.
"We had a real venting of emotions," said Senator Don Nickles of Oklahoma, the assistant majority leader. He described his colleagues as "shellshocked."
Nickles said he knew of no challenge to Lott but added, "There is a possibility."
But others dismissed the idea, and one, Senator Larry Craig, Republican of Idaho, vowed to "work actively against" any such challenge.
Jeffords's defection tips the fragile 50-50 power balance in the Senate to a 50-49 Democratic edge, meaning Democrats will assume the chairmanships of all committees and will control the legislative calendar and the legislative agenda.
Lott said that at Jeffords's insistence the transfer of power would occur after the Congress passed the presidents' tax cut or on June 5, whichever is later. Lawmakers said chances were good that negotiations could be completed and final passage could take place yesterday. But Lott had few answers today on the actual mechanics of the changeover.
While the parties have equal representation on the committees now, the Democrats may seek a one-person advantage on the committees to reflect their new majority, but Republicans said this could pose a problem. "That would probably be a sticking point, if they would expect more representation," Craig said.
Jeffords, in an interview, confirmed that he had been offered and would accept the chairmanship of the Committee on the Environment and Public Works, while retaining his seats on the Finance Committee and the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
Senator Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat who helped negotiate Jeffords's switch, would have been in line for chairmanship of the environment committee, but he is becoming assistant majority leader to the new majority leader, Senator Tom Daschle, Democrat of South Dakota.
Senate aides suggested that another loss for the Republicans could come fairly quickly because Jeffords's departure would make it easier for Senator Strom Thurmond, the 98-year-old South Carolinian, to retire.
As long as the Senate was divided 50-50, his vote was crucial, but he has appeared weaker in recent days.
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