As a result of the Congressional elections in November, the 108th Congress, due to convene early this month, will enjoy a Republican majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. In the Senate, Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), whom many Washington pundits regarded as an obstructionist when it came to moving legislation through that body, gave way as majority to Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.). Chairmanship of the various Senate committees will also revert to the Republicans. The “Prince of Pork,” Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), at age 85 becomes the most senior member of Congress when Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) retires this month at the age of 100.
In the House, Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) replaces Rep. Dick Armey (R-Texas) as the majority leader. Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) will have to deal with Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), successor to Rep. Dick Gephart (D-Mo.) as the leader of the opposition. Pelosi, considered a “fire-breathing” liberal, is in contrast to Gephart, who was depicted as a low-key Midwesterner.
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