Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Democrats take over Congress' key positions
By Megan Moser
Kansas State Collegian (Kansas State U.)
11/17/2006

(U-WIRE) MANHATTAN, Kan. — The midterm elections Nov. 7 meant a shift in the political makeup of Congress, as Democrats came into the majority for the first time since 1994.

Democrats now will chair all Congressional committees and head both legislative bodies when Congress reconvenes in January.

House Democrats chose Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., as the first-ever female Speaker of the House when they met Thursday. Pelosi's position puts her third in the order of presidential succession.

The party ignored Pelosi's choice for majority leader, Jack Murtha, D-Pa., a strong anti-war proponent, opting instead for Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., a 25-year veteran of Congress, by a vote of 149-86, according to an Associated Press article.

In the Senate, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., was named majority leader Tuesday. Reid chose Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., as assistant majority leader.

Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., will lose his post as Senate Intelligence Committee chair.

Roberts, a Kansas State University alumnus, has held the position since before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and since has seen the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq while in office. The Intelligence Committee chair became a key post in a time of terrorism and concerns over domestic security.

The senator endured scrutiny from critics and fellow politicians who have criticized the committee for its lack of preparation for such events and lack of knowledge on issues like weapons of mass destruction, according to an article in the Lawrence Journal-World.

When Senate Democrats caucus next Tuesday to formally choose Roberts' successor, the likely choice will be committee vice-chair Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.

The 69-year-old Rockefeller is known for attacking Republicans on domestic issues and their treatment of workers and the poor, according to the AP.

Rockefeller and Roberts issued a report that criticized pre-war intelligence from the CIA and other agencies, but the two have polar opinions on the White House's treatment of pre-war intelligence, according to the AP.

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