January 3, 2003

THE GOLDEN PARACHUTE:

Lott Likely to Get Rules Chairmanship (Mark Preston, January 3, 2003, Roll Call)
Seeking to soften the blow from his ouster as the next Majority Leader, Republicans are likely to offer Sen.Trent Lott (R-Miss.) the chairmanship of the Rules and Administration Committee.

Mr. Lott just landed on his feet, and Rick Santorum's sternum. Posted by Orrin Judd at January 3, 2003 6:07 PM
Comments

There is no need to filibuster if you run the Rules Committee.

Posted by: Tom Roberts at January 3, 2003 5:22 PM

I don't know enough about the Senate to know if this is an important position (and Lott can continue to screw things up for the GOP) or it sounds more important than it is and Lott won't cause further problems. Bad news for Santorum though as he was considered an up and comer - maybe he figures he'll something better in 2 years.

Posted by: AWW at January 3, 2003 7:42 PM

The Rules committee is a big deal--they can determine much about what's debated and how (though less in the Senate than in the House, I believe).

Posted by: oj at January 3, 2003 8:06 PM

The Rules Commitee chairmanship is pretty good - better than Lott deserves - but not quite as good as being in the actual leadership. I'm sure the fact that he holds a leadership post is what made Santorum willing to step aside as chairman of the committee.



That being said, I thought I had read that Pete Domenici had offered to step aside as chairman of Energy (he was term-limited out of his Budget Committee chairmanship). If this is true, then that seems to me to be a less risky place to put Lott than Rules.

Posted by: W. James Antle III at January 3, 2003 10:00 PM

Santorum is the best choice as victim. Along with Patty Murray and Barbara Boxer, he was recently voted by Senate staffers as the dumbest Senator. I don't think he had any upside, AWW.

Posted by: pj at January 4, 2003 5:06 AM

But see.

Posted by: David Cohen at January 4, 2003 7:36 AM
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