As Senate Republicans have seen their ranks greatly narrowed in the last two elections Minority Whip Jon Kyl has broadened his strategy for corralling votes enlisting an informal network to target dissident Democrats.
For example Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Don Young both Republicans from Alaska took advantage of a chance encounter on the Capitol steps last month to express concern to their home-state colleague freshman Democratic Sen. Mark Begich about a critical part of the Democrats proposal to battle global warming.
Though neither Murkowski nor Young is part of the Senate GOPs vote-counting team both serve as freelance allies in Kyls ambitious vision for targeting moderate Democrats from swing states.
Begich told them he remained uncommitted about plans to establish a cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions but he promised to stay in touch. We talked about global warming. Im still not decided on cap and trade" Begich recalled.
Arizonas Kyl now in his third term and other GOP leaders say they have developed a network of rank-and-file Republicans and allies on K Street to keep track of wavering Democrats before showdown votes on President Obamas priorities such as energy and health care bills.
That job previously fell to White House lobbyists under President George W. Bush said Sen. Richard M. Burr of North Carolina Kyls chief deputy whip. Now its up to a network that includes Murkowski and other senators from the 12 states that are represented by a senator from each of the two major parties. The group gathers weekly.
Relationships are the key. Colleagues reach out to members that they know" Burr said. It might be someone from the same region or from the same committee. It might be someone whose office is next to you."
Its a team effort" Kyl said of the whip operation that targets Democrats as well as Republicans. Part of it is working with outside groups and with members. . . . You just have to bird-dog it. Stay on it. And sometimes you can win."
Kyls job was made more challenging by Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter s party switch which put Democrats one vote shy of the 60-vote majority that is generally required to pass legislation in the Senate.
Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin D-Ill. said hes well aware of the GOPs low-key campaign to peel away Democrats. Despite a few Republican wins Durbin said he doubted the opposition would prevail on big issues. Its a different approach" he said. I dont think its going to work."
Power of 40 Votes
The latest example of GOP coalition-building came April 30 when Kyl and an alliance of Republicans banks and other business constituents helped to defeat 45‑51 an amendment to a housing bill (S 896) that would have allowed bankruptcy judges to change mortgages to avert foreclosures.
Red-state Democrats are uncomfortable with some of Obamas priorities" Burr said noting that the cap-and-trade proposal could be particularly problematic for moderate Democrats Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Evan Bayh of Indiana. And some may not want more mandates on health care" he added.
Despite Democratic victories on an expansion of childrens health insurance (PL 111-3) the economic stimulus law (PL 111-5) and the budget resolution (S Con Res 13) Republicans have been emboldened by recent victories and signs of Democratic division. They have vowed to block reshape or defeat a number of Democratic initiatives in coming months even though Specters defection has left the Senate Republican caucus with just 40 members.
But in a 99-member Senate 40 votes are enough to keep Democrats from cutting off debate on major legislation. Usually you need 41 votes to get anything done around here. But right now you can do a lot with 40 votes said Judd Gregg R-N.H.
And Republicans seem in no rush to settle the contested Senate race in Minnesota as they have backed Republican Norm Colemans legal efforts to keep Democrat Al Franken from being certified the winner. Kyl says he hopes Coleman will rejoin his eight-person whip team. Weve saved that slot for him" he said.
As a policy wonk best known for his work on the estate tax criminal justice and national security Kyl faced scrutiny when he succeeded a master vote counter Trent Lott R-Miss. (1989-2007).
While Lott relied on friendships and ice-breaking promotions such as Seersucker Thursday" Kyl tends to work behind the scenes. He once jokingly suggested Cowboy Boot Wednesday" but did not pursue it aides said.
I dont think I have a right just to say As a favor to me would you vote a certain way? " Kyl said. If you cant make the substantive argument that persuades them then you probably shouldnt be asking them to do you a favor."
Begich and Joseph I. Lieberman I‑Conn. who caucuses with the Democrats said they dont mind Kyls overtures. He talks to me a lot about foreign policy and other issues" Lieberman said. He doesnt always convince me."
Begich considers Murkowski and Young friends with whom he shares similar views on gun rights and energy. He says he might discuss other issues with them.
Weve got a long way to go on health care" Begich said. Its different when I hear something from someone that I have a personal relationship with versus someone that I dont know."
As Senate Republicans have seen their ranks greatly narrowed in the last two elections Minority Whip Jon Kyl has broadened his strategy for corralling votes enlisting an informal network to target dissident Democrats.
For example Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Don Young both Republicans from Alaska took advantage of a chance encounter on the Capitol steps last month to express concern to their home-state colleague freshman Democratic Sen. Mark Begich about a critical part of the Democrats proposal to battle global warming.
Though neither Murkowski nor Young is part of the Senate GOPs vote-counting team both serve as freelance allies in Kyls ambitious vision for targeting moderate Democrats from swing states.
Begich told them he remained uncommitted about plans to establish a cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions but he promised to stay in touch. We talked about global warming. Im still not decided on cap and trade" Begich recalled.
Arizonas Kyl now in his third term and other GOP leaders say they have developed a network of rank-and-file Republicans and allies on K Street to keep track of wavering Democrats before showdown votes on President Obamas priorities such as energy and health care bills.
That job previously fell to White House lobbyists under President George W. Bush said Sen. Richard M. Burr of North Carolina Kyls chief deputy whip. Now its up to a network that includes Murkowski and other senators from the 12 states that are represented by a senator from each of the two major parties. The group gathers weekly.
Relationships are the key. Colleagues reach out to members that they know" Burr said. It might be someone from the same region or from the same committee. It might be someone whose office is next to you."
Its a team effort" Kyl said of the whip operation that targets Democrats as well as Republicans. Part of it is working with outside groups and with members. . . . You just have to bird-dog it. Stay on it. And sometimes you can win."
Kyls job was made more challenging by Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter s party switch which put Democrats one vote shy of the 60-vote majority that is generally required to pass legislation in the Senate.
Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin D-Ill. said hes well aware of the GOPs low-key campaign to peel away Democrats. Despite a few Republican wins Durbin said he doubted the opposition would prevail on big issues. Its a different approach" he said. I dont think its going to work."
Power of 40 Votes
The latest example of GOP coalition-building came April 30 when Kyl and an alliance of Republicans banks and other business constituents helped to defeat 45‑51 an amendment to a housing bill (S 896) that would have allowed bankruptcy judges to change mortgages to avert foreclosures.
Red-state Democrats are uncomfortable with some of Obamas priorities" Burr said noting that the cap-and-trade proposal could be particularly problematic for moderate Democrats Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Evan Bayh of Indiana. And some may not want more mandates on health care" he added.
Despite Democratic victories on an expansion of childrens health insurance (PL 111-3) the economic stimulus law (PL 111-5) and the budget resolution (S Con Res 13) Republicans have been emboldened by recent victories and signs of Democratic division. They have vowed to block reshape or defeat a number of Democratic initiatives in coming months even though Specters defection has left the Senate Republican caucus with just 40 members.
But in a 99-member Senate 40 votes are enough to keep Democrats from cutting off debate on major legislation. Usually you need 41 votes to get anything done around here. But right now you can do a lot with 40 votes said Judd Gregg R-N.H.
And Republicans seem in no rush to settle the contested Senate race in Minnesota as they have backed Republican Norm Colemans legal efforts to keep Democrat Al Franken from being certified the winner. Kyl says he hopes Coleman will rejoin his eight-person whip team. Weve saved that slot for him" he said.
As a policy wonk best known for his work on the estate tax criminal justice and national security Kyl faced scrutiny when he succeeded a master vote counter Trent Lott R-Miss. (1989-2007).
While Lott relied on friendships and ice-breaking promotions such as Seersucker Thursday" Kyl tends to work behind the scenes. He once jokingly suggested Cowboy Boot Wednesday" but did not pursue it aides said.
I dont think I have a right just to say As a favor to me would you vote a certain way? " Kyl said. If you cant make the substantive argument that persuades them then you probably shouldnt be asking them to do you a favor."
Begich and Joseph I. Lieberman I‑Conn. who caucuses with the Democrats said they dont mind Kyls overtures. He talks to me a lot about foreign policy and other issues" Lieberman said. He doesnt always convince me."
Begich considers Murkowski and Young friends with whom he shares similar views on gun rights and energy. He says he might discuss other issues with them.
Weve got a long way to go on health care" Begich said. Its different when I hear something from someone that I have a personal relationship with versus someone that I dont know."
