Senate Committee Slots

[socaldem]

Assuming that Democrats pick up a few seats (3-4), who gets assigned to what committees?

In particular, I want to know if Harry Reid's Senate Appropriations Committee commitments are public... 

The GOP will, I predict, have lost two senators on the committee--Stevens (AK) to retirement or defeat and Craig (ID) to retirement or resignation...  The lowest ranking GOPer Lamar Alexander may also have to be dropped.

Right now, the Appropriations Committee includes the following Dems:

Byrd
Inouye
Leahy
Harkin
Mikulski (likely retirement in '10)
Kohl
Murray
Dorgan
Feinstein
Durbin
Johnson
Landrieu
Reed
Lautenberg
Nelson

I know Jon Tester has a commitment to get on the committee eventually but there are probably a few other senators with higher seniority that will be added first.  I'm guessing Senators Mark Pryor and Debbie Stabenow may be in line for spots on Appropriations...

--

Interestingly, at least 3 but as many as 6 out of 8 Republicans on the Homeland Security committee may lose in '08--Warner, Sununu, Collins, Coleman, Stevens & Domenici.

I hope that Pryor (who is one slot ahead of Landrieu on the committee) is moved off Homeland Security so that Mary Landrieu can take over the chairmanship from Lieberman if she wins reelection and the Democratic majority is solidified so that Lieberman can be ousted.

--

Committee Reccomendations for future senators:


Likely Senators

VA

Mark Warner 
Budget, Homeland Security, Banking, Commerce, Intelligence

(retiring John Warner--Armed Services, Environment, Homeland Security, Intelligence)

NH

Jeanne Shaheen
HELP (though NH Senator Gregg is also on the committee), Homeland Security,
Finance, Commerce

(defeated Senator John Sununu--Banking, Commerce, Foreign Relations, Homeland Security, Joint Economic)

CO

Mark Udall
Environment,  Commerce, Energy (though Salazar is also assigned here),Armed Services, Indian Affairs (Udall serves on Armed Service, Science & Technology, & Natural Resources in the House).

(retiring senator Allard --Approprations, Banking, Budget, HELP)

Mike Johnanns
Agriculture (but there may not be a slot for him because Norm Coleman looks to be only GOPer leaving committee next year and it will need to be trimmed. Plus Ben Nelson's already there.), Commerce, Budget, Homeland Security.

or

Bob Kerrey
Foreign Relations, Homeland Security, Finance, Banking, Intelligence

(retiring Senator Chuck Hagel--Foreign Relations, Banking, Rules, Intelligence)

--

Possible Senators

ME

Tom Allen
Budget, Foreign Relations, Environment, Energy

(possibly defeated Sue Collins--Armed Services, Homeland Security, Aging)

NC

Greier Martin
Armed Services, Banking, Finance, Foreign Relations,

(Possibly defeated Elizabeth Dole--Armed Services, Banking, Small Business, Aging)

OR

Jeff Merkley
Foreign Relations, Commerce, Armed Services, Intelligence

(Possibly defeated Gordon Smith--Commerce, Energy, Finance, Indian Affairs, Aging)


MN

Al Franken (what committees is he qualified to be on?!?)
HELP, Energy, Agriculture

or

Mike Ciresi
Judiciary, Foreign Relations, Agriculture, Commerce

(Possibly defeated Norm Coleman--Agriculture, Foreing Relations, Homeland Security, Small Business, Aging)

[Conan]

Assuming that Democrats pick up a few seats (3-4), who gets assigned to what committees?

In particular, I want to know if Harry Reid's Senate Appropriations Committee commitments are public... 

The GOP will, I predict, have lost two senators on the committee--Stevens (AK) to retirement or defeat and Craig (ID) to retirement or resignation...  The lowest ranking GOPer Lamar Alexander may also have to be dropped.

Right now, the Appropriations Committee includes the following Dems:

Byrd
Inouye
Leahy
Harkin
Mikulski (likely retirement in '10)
Kohl
Murray
Dorgan
Feinstein
Durbin
Johnson
Landrieu
Reed
Lautenberg
Nelson

I know Jon Tester has a commitment to get on the committee eventually but there are probably a few other senators with higher seniority that will be added first.  I'm guessing Senators Mark Pryor and Debbie Stabenow may be in line for spots on Appropriations...

--

Interestingly, at least 3 but as many as 6 out of 8 Republicans on the Homeland Security committee may lose in '08--Warner, Sununu, Collins, Coleman, Stevens & Domenici.

I hope that Pryor (who is one slot ahead of Landrieu on the committee) is moved off Homeland Security so that Mary Landrieu can take over the chairmanship from Lieberman if she wins reelection and the Democratic majority is solidified so that Lieberman can be ousted.
[Quote]
No way in hell should Landrieu get Homeland Security.

[AndrewTX]

No, I disagree 100% Conan.

 Landrieu should get a spot on Homeland Security. While we are at it, we might as well get Mark Foley should run for Congress again, and lets put him back on HCMEC.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I would love to see Pryor get appropriations.  That would be great for Arkansas.
New Senators:
1.   New Hampshire: Jeanne Shaheen (HELP, Budget, Homeland Security)
2.   Minnesota: Al Franken (Judiciary, Agriculture, Intelligence, VA)
3.   Virginia: Mark Warner (Armed Services, Budget, Commerce, VA)
4.   Nebraska: Bob Kerrey (Armed Services, Agriculture, Homeland Security, Intelligence)
5.   Colorado: Mark Udall (Agriculture, Foreign Relations, Indian Affairs, Commerce, Science, and Transportation)
6.   Oregon: Jeff Merkley (Armed Services, Foreign Relations, Homeland Security, Budget)

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Kerrey isn't even going to run, and you're already giving him committee slots?

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Kerrey isn't even going to run, and you're already giving him committee slots?

I think he will run, and he will win.  He will be heavily recruited, and he can't say no.

[Conan]

Kerrey isn't even going to run, and you're already giving him committee slots?

I think he will run, and he will win.  He will be heavily recruited, and he can't say no.

I dont think he will run. Why risk your reputation as a winner in NE? He's accomplished and he retired on his own terms. I dont think he will risk that against Johanns.

Edit:

I'd love to see a poll though.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Kerrey isn't even going to run, and you're already giving him committee slots?

I think he will run, and he will win.  He will be heavily recruited, and he can't say no.

Uh, of course he can say no.  Why ruin a terrific reputation with a carpet-bagger run against a wildly popular, more recent, and more ideologically compatible former Governor?