Posted on 04/28/2009 4:09:06 PM PDT by Para-Ord.45
Rattled by the defection of Jim Jeffords in 2001, Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter proposed changing the Senate rules to diminish the impact of Senators switching party mid-session -- as he did today.
Specter took to the floor to express his unhappiness with Jeffords' move, and to suggest a rule -- which was never put into place -- "which would preclude a recurrence of this situation" in which a single Senator's move shifted control of the body. (Specter's move today didn't have that effect.)
Here's the relevant portion of Specter's May 14, 2001 speech, which was unearthed by POLITICO's Eamon Javers:
...When the Democrats urged me to switch parties some time ago, I gave them a flat "no." I have been asked in the last several days if I intended to switch parties. I have said absolutely not.
...To repeat, I intend to propose a Senate rule which would preclude a change in control of the Senate when a Senator decides to vote with the opposing party for organizational purposes.
One other aspect does deserve comment, and that is the issue of personal benefit to a changing Senator. In our society, political arrangements avoid the consequences of similar conduct in other contexts.
(excerpt)
That was before he was paid this $hitload of money. He’ll bring in more now in the next year or two than during his entire previous career.
Ya mean Specter turned out to be a POLITICIAN!
His hypocrisy will fit in nicely with his new political bent.
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