An anticipated shake-up in Senate leadership resulting from Ted Kennedy's death won't change a central tenet of this Congress: Democrats are still very much in charge.
As Democrats move to fill Kennedy's post as chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, it has become clear that left-leaning Democrats will continue to have a firm grip on President Barack Obama's two major legislative initiatives this year - reforming health care and clamping down on Wall Street.
Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut was expected to announce Wednesday that he would remain in charge of the banking committee and help Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., oversee a complex rewrite of the rules governing the nation's financial institutions.
Among their top priorities is creating a new agency dedicated solely to protecting consumers from fraud and abuse by mortgage and credit card companies. Republicans oppose the plan as an example of big government and say it would discourage financial institutions from developing innovative products that people want.
Dodd's decision not to succeed Kennedy, his close friend and mentor, as chairman of the health panel means the next in line is Sen. Tom Harkin, an Iowan Democrat whose old-fashioned progressivism was not unlike Kennedy's. Harkin would have to abandon his post as chairman of the agriculture committee. If Harkin declines, Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski would be up for the job.
In recent years, Harkin has used his chairmanship on the agriculture committee to aid family farmers. And as a senior member of the health committee who helped Kennedy draft the panel's bill, Harkin has said the legislation must include a public insurance option.
Harkin also is known for his ardent defense of embryonic stem cell research. In 2006, Harkin worked with Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, then a Republican, to push through legislation that would have lifted restrictions on federal funding for the research. President George W. Bush vetoed the bill.
Harkin's departure from the agriculture committee could hand that chairmanship to Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, a more moderate Democrat but staunch supporter of government farm subsidies. The new post would be a boon for Lincoln, who faces a potentially tough re-election fight next year and could use the committee perch to aid Arkansas farmers.
Dodd's decision, means that Sen. Tim Johnson will remain the No. 2 Democrat on the banking panel.
Johnson's potential ascension through the ranks had excited the financial industry because he is considered more sympathetic to their business than Dodd, who faces a tough re-election fight and is using the chairmanship to champion populist issues.
KTC
