A filibuster-proof Democratic majority in the Senate remains elusive, even after Senator Arlen Specter’s switch to the Democrats last week, because of the range of views within the party, Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin said.
“We have a very diverse caucus on the Democratic side, some conservatives, some moderates, some liberals, and each of them sees things a little differently,” Durbin said today. “To think that they’re going to march in lockstep may be Harry Reid’s and my dream, but not likely to occur,” he said, referring to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
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It requires 60 votes in the Senate to overcome filibusters that can stall legislation. Pennsylvania Republican Specter’s party shift last week gave the Democrats 59-40 control of the Senate, with one seat still in contention in Minnesota.
Durbin, speaking on “Fox News Sunday,” said Republicans will likely continue to hold up a decision on the Minnesota seat. If incumbent Republican Norm Coleman’s challenger, Al Franken, is seated, the Democrats would gain a 60-vote majority.
If Democrats gain the ability to override the minority in both the House and the Senate, they are “going to have a lot of responsibility on their plate,” Republican Senator John Ensign of Nevada said on Fox. “I hope that they don’t try to reach too far.”
Democratic Loyalty
Specter today denied reports that he told President Barack Obama that he’d be a Democratic loyalist.
“I did not say I would be a loyal Democrat,” Specter said on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” noting that “I voted against the budget” on April 29, the day after he announced his switch to the Democratic Party.
Specter, speaking on the CBS program “Face The Nation,” referred to his record of independence as a Republican.
“I still intend to represent the people of Pennsylvania and what is good for my state and for the country,” Specter said. The president has said “he would be looking for my advice, especially when I disagreed with him. So it’s not a secret,” the senator said.
Specter also defended his decision to become a Democrat.
“I was disappointed that the Republican Party didn’t want me as their candidate,” Specter said on the CBS show. “But as a matter of principle, I’m becoming much more comfortable with the Democrats’ approach.”
The Republicans should try to bring back the party of the “Reagan big tent” that he joined, Specter said, referring to former Republican President Ronald Reagan. At that time, “the room was full of moderate Republicans.”
“One vote, the stimulus package vote, I was ostracized, created a schism,” Specter said on the show. “I don’t expect people to agree with all my votes. I don’t agree with them all, at this point. But you’ve got to have some latitude.”
Specter declined to pick out which of his own votes he disagreed with.
“I don’t agree with all of them at this point, as I have rethunk many – many issues,” Specter said. Still, “I don’t regret any of the major votes. I’m pleased with where I stand.”
