January 14, 2003
THE NEED FOR A COMMITTEE RESOLUTION
- Senate Republicans won a majority of seats (51-49) in the elections on November 5, 2002. It is now January 14, 2003, and the Senate has yet to agree on an organizing resolution reflecting the new majority. This has precluded us from conducting any business, a clear negation of the will of the American people.
- Based on S. Res. 54 passed on March 8, 2001, current committee funding does not expire until February 28th and does not have to be addressed prior to that date. Therefore, we could continue to negotiate funding while at least naming Committee Chairmen, so that the Senate may begin the work the American people elected them to do.
- Democrats not only refuse to reorganize, they are still acting as Chairmen in many cases and, in one instance, issued a hearing notice without the consent of Republican Committee members.
- In recent history it has never taken so long for the Senate to pass a Committee organization resolution. Organization resolutions agreed to in past Congresses:
103rd Congress - January 7
104th Congress - January 4
105th Congress - January 9
106th Congress - January 7
- Until last Congress'50-50 split, clear precedent has been set regarding a 2/3 - 1/3 split for committee funding. A chart of historic funding ratios, provided by the Senate Rules Committee audit staff, is available from the Republican Policy Committee.
- Following Senator Jeffords' switch (effective on June 6, 2001), the Senate quickly recognized new chairmen, as provided by S. Res. 8, which previously had been passed by unanimous consent on January 5, 2001. Senate Republicans were fully cooperative in the naming of new committee chairmen.
- S. Res. 4 was passed by the Senate in 1977 setting the 2/3 - 1/3 precedent. Before the passage of this resolution, minority committee staff was not even entitled to 1/3 of committee funding. The rule is below.
Standing Rules of The Senate
RULE XXVII
COMMITTEE STAFF
1. Staff members appointed to assist minority members of committees pursuant to authority of a resolution described in paragraph 9 of rule XXVI or other Senate resolution shall be accorded equitable treatment with respect to the fixing of salary rates, the assignment of facilities, and the accessibility of committee records.
2. The minority shall receive fair consideration in the appointment of staff personnel pursuant to authority of a resolution described in paragraph 9 of rule XXVI.
3. The staffs of committees (including personnel appointed pursuant to authority of a resolution described in paragraph 9 of rule XXVI or other Senate resolution) should reflect the relative number of majority and minority members of committees. A majority of the minority members of any committee may, by resolution, request that at least one third of all funds of the committee for personnel (other than those funds determined by the chairman and ranking minority member to be allocated for the administrative and clerical functions of the committee as a whole) be allocated to the minority members of such committee for compensation of minority staff as the minority members may decide. The committee shall thereafter adjust its budget to comply with such resolution. Such adjustment shall be equitably made over a four year period, commencing July 1, 1977, with not less than one half being made in two years. Upon request by a majority of the minority members of any committee by resolution, proportionate space, equipment, and facilities shall be provided for such minority staff. [emphasis added]
4. No committee shall appoint to its staff any experts or other personnel detailed or assigned from any department or agency of the Government, except with the written permission of the Committee on Rules and Administration.
- In the last century, the majority party twice (83rd and 84th Congresses) controlled the Senate by a one-vote margin. On two other occasions (82nd and 85th Congresses), the majority had only a two-vote advantage. (CRS Specialist in American National Government Paul Runquist)
- These instances existed prior to the passage of S. Res. 4 in 1977 establishing the precedent for a 2/3 - 1/3 ratio for committee funding. Records are not readily available on the breakdown of funding at these times, but it is very likely that the minority was granted far less than 1/3 of committee funding.
Caving with the GOP