Senate control uncertain following death of Wellstone
The death of Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., does not immediately change the balance of power in the Senate-but creates a situation in which two Senate elections Nov. 5 could restore Republicans to the majority in the upcoming lame-duck session.
Wellstone was killed Friday in the crash of a small chartered plane in northeastern Minnesota, along with his wife Sheila, daughter Marcia and campaign aides Tom Lapic, Mary MacEvoy and Will McLaughlin, and two pilots.
Wellstone's death leaves the Senate divided 49-49-1, but independent Sen. James Jeffords of Vermont would continue to supply his vote to keep Democrats in the majority.
However, if a successor for the remainder of Wellstone's current term is not appointed until after the Nov. 5 election, and Republican nominee Norm Coleman, a former St. Paul mayor, is elected, independent Gov. Jesse Ventura could immediately appoint Coleman to the seat. That would create a 50-50 split and give Vice President Cheney the tie-breaking opportunity to give control to the Republicans.
Ventura Friday had little to say little about a successor for Wellstone, other than to declare that he would not appoint himself to the seat.
Even if a Democrat were named to finish Wellstone's term, another special election-this one to decide whether Sen. Jean Carnahan, D-Mo., finishes the remaining four years of her late husband's term-also could come into play. If former Republican Rep. Jim Talent defeats Carnahan, he could be seated before the end of the year and then restore Republicans to the majority.
Either development would give the GOP control over both chambers of Congress in the post-election lame-duck session scheduled to begin the week after Election Day.
Republicans were unwilling to speak publicly about the possibility in the hours after Wellstone's death. But GOP sources said Republican Senate leaders plan to meet Monday to map out a strategy.
Even limited GOP control of the Senate could have major implications for the lame-duck session, which is scheduled to begin Nov. 12. Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., and other Senate Republicans have pressed for an extremely short post-election session in which senators would approve a continuing resolution to fund the government until next year as well as any conference reports that emerge from House-Senate negotiations.
A Republican majority in the Senate also would break the logjam on homeland security legislation. Without Wellstone's reliable vote, Democrats would lose their one-vote advantage on the key labor rules that have held up approval of the bill since July. As a result, Cheney would be able to break a tie vote on the labor provisions and move the bill through the Senate after months of fruitless debate.
The National Treasury Employees Union, which has pushed strongly for labor rights for workers slated to move into the Homeland Security Department, called Wellstone's death "a great loss for the American people" Friday.
"He never wavered in his beliefs, and he never wavered from his passion and commitment to American workers and their families," said NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley.
President Bush, congressional leaders and colleagues also mourned the death of Wellstone, calling it a great loss for Minnesota and the country.
Bush called Wellstone "a plainspoken fellow" who did his best for Minnesota and the United States.
In a statement, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said Wellstone was the "soul of the Senate." He said the death of Wellstone and his wife is a "shattering loss to Minnesota, to the nation and to all who knew and loved them." Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., added, "For the entire United States Senate, this is a death in our family."
In Minnesota, former Vice President Walter Mondale, who served 12 years as the state's senator, praised Wellstone's intellect, adding, "He also had a great heart." Mondale said the Wellstones "made one of the most impressive public couples" in America.
Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who was in the state to campaign for Wellstone, added: "He was man of enormous ability, but most of all, he was a caring person. He was coming to the people of Minnesota that he loved and he wanted their support so he could return to the United States Senate and fight for them. We'll miss you Paul, and we'll never forget you."
Former St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman, who was challenging Wellstone, said the "people of Minnesota have experienced a terrible, unimaginable tragedy. The entire Wellstone family has been selfless, public servants who embodied the best of Minnesota."