Power Sharing in the U.S. Senate

Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Senate reached a power sharing agreement Jan. 5. Each party will hold an equal number seats on committees, and both parties will be able to lead voting procedures on the Senate floor.

Students sent their reactions to our story on 50/50 power sharing.

Evelyn Herron, Lexington, Kentucky

I am disturbed by the appearance that George W. Bush thinks he has a mandate. He doesn't. He did not win the popular vote, and probably did not win Florida if the votes had really been counted. Also, the Senate is divided 50/50. I think the committees should also be divided 50/50. If this results in some kind of gridlock, so be it. That's what the American people voted for. We did *not* vote in a Republican majority in the Senate. Even though Vice-President Cheney can break any tie vote, he is not a member of the Senate. He is a member of the Administration who happens to serve as the presiding officer of the Senate when he is in town. As such, he does not have the right to vote except to break a tie.

James Murphy, France

I believe that the Democrats should not push for 'power sharing' committees. There are very few successful 50/50 splits in the world today. Someone has to be a decision-maker with the final word. The Democrat's complaints sound like sour grapes, although they gained nine new seats. Effectively the elections have sealed the fate of both Congress and the presidential office. It is going to be very difficult to get anything done. My advice to the Democrats would be to give the Republicans enough rope to hang themselves. Remember, in 1992 a popular saying was "I didn't vote Clinton in, I voted Bush out." I just hope the new president is not up to his father's tricks (Read my lips: No new taxes) with this big tax cut proposal. This proposal is going to be a big test for both the new administration and the 107th Congress.

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