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American Morning

Transition of Power on Capitol Hill

Aired June 05, 2001 - 11:07   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Transition day on Capitol Hill: This time tomorrow, the Senate will be under the control of the Democratic Party -- by the slightest of margins, we should mention. Now, while the changeover is inevitable, Republican leaders are not going out quietly.

Our national correspondent Bob Franken is on Capitol Hill. And he is following the power switch for us this morning -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Following every little movement of it, Leon.

For instance, the Republican leaders came into the building quietly today. Trent Lott, within the last hour or so, arrived. He is the Republican leader -- today, the majority leader; tomorrow, he will be the minority leader, replaced by somebody who arrived a couple of hours early: Tom Daschle, Democratic leader, today minority, tomorrow majority leader -- of course, that transition all brought on by the fact that James Jeffords decided to become an independent and vote with the Democrats.

We know all about that. His desk will be literally be picked up, unbolted from the floor on the Republican side and moved over to the Democratic side. That, of course, will be the symbolism. More importantly will be that the Democrats will control the agenda in the Senate. They will be able to decide which legislation comes out onto the floor. It could affect such pieces of legislation as patients bill of rights, prescription drugs, energy, etcetera.

You name it, it's going to be the Democratic point of view that will be the one that is expressed more often than not on the Senate floor. Now, there's going to be a real confrontation over the composition of the committees. The Republicans have some leverage there. And they are going to try and use that leverage to keep things stalled until the Democrats agree to allow judicial appointments to go more easily through the Senate.

Democrats, of course, consider that hugely important. That could be a real sticking point. It could really stop things very quickly in the Senate. But what it won't stop, in all probability, is the ascension tomorrow of Robert Byrd to be the president of the Senate, president pro tem -- making him, by the way, No. 4 in the succession to be Senate. He will immediately appoint Tom Daschle the leader of the Senate, the majority leader. And so the Democrats will take over -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right, thanks much, Bob Franken on Capitol Hill -- Daryn.

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