Editorial: Share power in the Senate

Friday, Dec. 8, 2000 | 10:27 a.m.

The photo-finish presidential race, which still is unresolved one month after Election Day, has generated overwhelming media coverage. Other election outcomes, including those in Congress, haven't drawn nearly as much attention. But an impasse brewing in the Senate on how to share power could, if it isn't resolved fairly, create such bad blood in the upper house that it could seriously jeopardize any hopes that important bipartisan legislation will emerge in the next two years.

Democratic gains mean the U.S. Senate likely will be tied 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans when Congress convenes next year. Democrats believe that this equal split should result in power sharing. The GOP leadership, though, argues that one party must be in the majority and exercise control. If George W. Bush ultimately becomes president, and since Dick Cheney as vice president would break any ties, they argue that Republicans should alone have committee chairmanships and hold a majority of seats on the committees. The Republican leadership's insistence that equality can't work is just plain wrong, however, especially since statehouses have been able to work out power-sharing responsibilities.

A report by the National Conference of State Legislatures notes that while partisan deadlocks aren't typical, the fact is that they have happened in recent years. The Nevada Legislature's Assembly was tied 21-21 in 1995. The members of the Assembly came up with a common-sense solution. Co-chairmanships were created, so that each party would alternate the running of the committees. Despite the unprecedented nature of power-sharing in Nevada, most legislative observers -- and even the legislators themselves -- found that it worked pretty well, which also has been the sentiment in other states where similar arrangements were put in place.

Some Republican senators have suggested they will be amenable to some power sharing, but the GOP leadership so far has been reluctant to do so. Unless the Republicans agree to a genuine power-sharing plan, which not only would require an equal number of seats on the committees but also would mean co-chairmanships, then it's going to be a long two years until the next election. And if the American public views Senate Republicans acting like bullies to maintain their grip on power, then voters might just reward the Democrats with enough seats two years from now to give them the majority. Republicans shouldn't forget what most reasonable politicians understand: What goes around comes around.