Former Vermont Senator, Jeffords Dies at 80

Fox News ^ | August 20, 2014

[Din Maker]

The former U.S. senator from Vermont who in 2001 tipped control of the Senate when he quit the Republican Party to become an independent has died. James Jeffords was 80.

Jeffords had announced in 2005 that he would not seek a fourth term, citing his and his wife's health problems. His wife, Liz, died in 2007.

Jeffords served more than 30 years in Washington. He won election to the House in 1974 as a Republican.

He was the only Republican in the House to vote against President Ronald Reagan's tax cuts in 1981. A decade late, upset with President George W. Bush's opposition to the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, Jeffords decided that was the last straw. In May of 2001, he declared he would leave the Republicans and caucus with the Democrats.

[Din Maker]

"Jumping Jim" Jeffords is dead. Well...... no comment.

[from occupied ga]

He was the only Republican in the House to vote against President Ronald Reagan's tax cuts in 1981.

Ol Jumping Jim was really running under false colors at the time.

Jeffords served more than 30 years in Washington.

Part of the problem with our government right there.

[KC_Conspirator]

He jumped in 2001 because he believed too much what the ComPost and NY Slimes said. A year later he was in the minority. Sadly, no one is remembering who he was, although at the time the liberal rags he believed said he would go down as one of the most remembered; in other words they lied.

[sauropod]

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

[from occupied ga]

Read the comments on the story here if you're having trouble throwing up.

[fortheDeclaration]

Traitor!

[kearnyirish2]

That was sweet, when the next mid-term made him irrelevant.

What a POS; good riddance.

[napscoordinator]

Prayers to his family and friends.

[ScottinVA]

He’s dead?

Oh

[mj1234]

“friends?”

He had some?lol

sorry to pile on- he did leave the repugs for the
Demon party-they promised him the WORLD-and ALL the people-

Got nothing in the end

As far as I know- both parties ran away from this loser

[ScottinVA]

IIRC, he also inquired about returning to the GOP after the 2002 elections. Trent Lott said, “thanks, but no thanks.”

[cynwoody]

May he burn in hell.

[DJ Frisat]

Looks like he’s made his final jump to ‘the other side’...

I won’t speak ill of the dead, but I sure had no use for this guy when he was alive.

Condolences to the family.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

And he aint gonna jump no more.

[Gay State Conservative]

I wonder how his brief “caucus” with Saint Peter went.

[upchuck]

Jeffords served more than 30 years in Washington.

How is this a good thing?

Term limits. I'm thinking no more than 12 years in the House and/or Senate. If you can't make a statement in 12 years, you should not have been elected.

[ontap]

A liar and a traitor!!!!

[Rummyfan]

Jumpin’ Jim Jeffords, the Vermont Dairy Queen. Took the Senate from Republican to Democrat control without bothering the American people with a vote on the matter. Good riddance and RIP.

[elcid1970]

Jumping Jim will not be missed.

Does this leave just one left of the infamous “Singing Senators”?

[Lazamataz]

The former U.S. senator from Vermont who in 2001 tipped control of the Senate when he quit the Republican Party to become an independent has died. James Jeffords was 80.

Let me guess.

He jumped to his death.