Jeffords Abandons Republican Party

Change Could Improve Climate in Senate for GLBT Community

In a press release dated May 24, NGLTF outlined some of the changes which are expected to happen in the Senate after Jeffords announced on that same day he would become an Independent and vote with Democrats on organizational matters.

The move effectively gives Democrats a 51-49 majority, and Sen. Tom Daschle will become the Majority Leader. Democrats will have the power to name the chairs of all Senate committees.

Because of this shift, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-VT, will replace Sen. Orrin Hatch as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which votes on President Bush’s judicial nominations.

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-MA, will become chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. This committee considers a number of measures important to the GLBT community ranging from nondiscrimination laws to school safety programs that fight HIV/AIDS.

Sen. Joe Biden, D-DE, will replace Sen. Jesse Helms as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Helms is one of the senators who held up the nomination of openly-gay James Hormel to be ambassador to Luxembourg during the Clinton administration.

“The new composition of the Senate will serve as a brake on Bush’s more radical proposals,” said NGLTF political director Tim McFeeley.

“It will mean that Bush’s nominees, particularly for the judiciary, will receive more careful scrutiny. It will mean that pro-GLBT measures, like the proposed hate crimes law, safe schools legislation, bans on discrimination and pro-GLBT immigration measures could stand a better chance of at least being aired for debate.”

“All in all, this change will make the U.S. Senate more compassionate and less conservative,” said McFeeley.

NGLTF maintains “W Watch,” a web site devoted to tracking Bush’s nominees and initiatives that could affect the GLBT community. To visit W Watch, go to www.ngltf.org and click on the “W” button.