Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Spokesman for children

Friday, Jan. 4, 2002 | 4:52 a.m.

Jeffords' decision-making process is also revealed as he struggled with leaving the Republican majority and becoming an Independent. His decision affected the change of Senate leadership from Republican to Democrat. It wasn't an easy decision for the man, but his personal thoughts and attempts not to leave his political party are given in his writing.

The people of Vermont and their representatives have a long history of supporting education. The senator from Vermont had tired of watching the underfunding of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act since its inception 26 years ago. In 1975 Congress had pledged to fund 40 percent of its costs during the following years. This is a reasonable amount the states should expect from Washington to meet the needs for special education. Sadly, the best the Congress has done is pay for 15 percent, despite the efforts of legislators like Jeffords.

There was great hope among members of Congress who support special education funding that a large increase would be forthcoming in 2001. President George W. Bush had promoted himself during the presidential campaign of 2000 as the Education Governor of Texas. Now was the time, because of a huge surplus, for Jeffords to keep the promise Congress had failed to fulfill for two decades. He soon learned that the desire for a $1.6 billion tax cut demanded by the White House was written in stone and there was no inclination to meet Jeffords' demands for special education. As he writes, "Disabled children are not a potent enough lobby to receive their due."

The role played by the White House staff and Sen. Trent Lott, GOP majority leader, is good reading for any student of government. Both of them put the full-court press on the man from Vermont and his staff. An example of what took place follows:

"We went back and forth, seeming at times to talk past one another. The president's head of congressional relations, Nick Calio, made appeals to past support and spoke darkly of the future if I opposed the president. At one point, another of Bush's senior advisers asked me what their incentive would be to deal with me if I proposed to reduce the tax cut below $1.6 trillion. 'How about educating children?' I responded, not intending to be sarcastic but probably coming off that way."

Jeffords, like large numbers of Vermonters I know, isn't likely to fold under pressure from threats. I don't know the senator, but had serious doubts that he would leave the GOP. I was wrong, but he did point out that he "could never be a Democrat." He, like the people of his state, found the title of Independent to be both comfortable and honorable.

The reaction of Lott to Jeffords' decision to leave the party wasn't pleasant. Jeffords writes, "Had Lott succeeded in persuading a Democrat to switch, Republicans would have hailed him as a genius. Indeed, the defections of Senators (Richard) Shelby and Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado in 1994 and 1995 had been greeted in Republican circles as statesmanlike decisions that affirmed the righteousness of all that was Republican."

After meeting with Democratic leaders, Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota and Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, Jeffords had made up his mind to become an Independent. He noted that, "Harry Reid also had very generously told me that he would be willing to step down as chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee so that I would retain a chairmanship."

"My Declaration of Independence" is easy reading and right to the point. Not only does it show how Congress works, it shows the soul of a man dedicated to helping people who have few champions. It also is a good lesson on the value of a talented and loyal staff in the legislative process.