Dems Punish Sen. Specter Stripping His Seniority On 5 Committees 
Fresh on the heels of Sen. Arlen Specter's defection from the G.O.P. to the Democratic Party, are recent news reports that he has just been stripped of Seniority on five Congressional committees.
The decision to remove Specter's seniority on those committees occurred during a vote on Capitol Hill Tuesday night and may have come as a surprise to the 29 year Public Servant.
Pursuant to Specter's defection he told reporters Dems had assured him such a move would allow him to maintain priority status as it relates to becoming a future Committee Chairman, upon his reelection in 2010.
Last Sunday he also stated to "Meet the Press" show host David Gregrory, "it's an "entitlement" for him to retain his seniority on those committees.
Further stating, "I was elected in 1980. I think that's not a bribe or a give for something extraordinary," he said. "I'll be treated as a Democrat as if I was elected as a Democrat."
However apparently this sentiment was not embraced throughout the Democrat-controlled Congress.
By voice vote Specter was instead added as a Democrat Junior member on these five committees:
Judiciary, Appropriations, Veterans Affairs, Aging and Environment & Public Works.
While Specter's new position on these committees does expand the Dems' majority, it will place him in last place during Committee Hearings and limit his influence.
It seems the Dems decision to unseat Specter from his Seniority status came about AFTER he voted against President Obama's Budget and publicly expressed he wanted Norm Coleman to win Minnesota's Senate race.
Going forward it looks as though if Senator Specter wishes to reap anymore Congressional rewards, he's going to have to "tone down" his Independent streak and show some Democratic Loyalty.
With all due respect to Senator Specter, considering that our country is in much need of Economic Reform, Health Care Reform, Tax Reform, Criminal Justice System Reform, Housing Reform, Educational Reform, etc., this is no time for ANY member of Congress to grandstand or demonstrate their so-called "Independent Streak".
Instead its a time to work together in order to help bring about needed positive change for the American Voters.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (2)
at 05:05 on May 6th, 2009
I guess we.ll wait till 2010 and see if he gets reelected in PA. The we.ll see where he sits within the Democratic Party. He made his bed he needs to sleep in it.,
at 08:33 on May 6th, 2009
Arlen better get a clue. This ain't no "politics as usual" for the Dems. He changed party because in PA, in order to vote in a primary you must be registered in the party. Republicans in PA are a shrinking, right-shifting group who will not do well in a general
election of progressive-thinking voters. He HAD to switch to stay alive for the next round in 2010. I think this is his last term in office. There are several others in the wings that will help reverse the last 8 years and, at the same time, divert the rebirth of Gingrich's "Contract On America" that helped get us to this point.
at 09:16 on May 6th, 2009
Makes the demos look mean-spirited and, in any case, there is a problem on the judiciary committee.
Apparently for a Supreme Court candidate to leave committee and get voted on by the full Senate, the majority of dems plus the senior repub are needed.
When Spector was the senior republican, he could pass on the democrats' candidates as the senior republican, but no more.
So, when this next Supreme Court nominee comes up, a more conservative, originalist-minded republican will be the senior member of the opposition on the judiciary committee.
Source: beltwayblips.dailyradar.com
He is considered far-right. This move of Spector's has inadvertently played into the hand of the republicans, and will hurt Obama's capacity to choose a far-left candidate for the Supreme Court.
Source: tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com
at 09:51 on May 6th, 2009
Politics is a funny business. The devious back door deals are being made now. I wish these guys would work for the electors that voted for them instead of playing these power games. Anybody with a head on his shoulder can see through this stuff.