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Gop loses senate control as allen concedes Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/nation/15978477.htmhttp://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/nation/15978477.htm
Posted on Fri, Nov. 10, 2006
GOP loses Senate control as Allen concedes
By MARGARET TALEV
McClatchy News Service
WASHINGTON -- Democrats cheered their takeover of the Senate on Thursday after incumbent Republican Sen. George Allen of Virginia conceded that Democrat James Webb's 7,200-vote lead was too large to overcome in a recount.
"The election's over. It's time for a change," said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., to whoops from Capitol Hill staff and party activists at a rally outside the Capitol minutes after Allen conceded. Reid is expected to be the next Senate majority leader.
Allen, a former Virginia governor and conservative icon who had been considering a run for president, said he wouldn't seek a recount because "I do not wish to cause more rancor by protracted litigation, which, in my judgment, would not alter the results."
The concession by Allen, matched by one from Republican Sen. Conrad Burns of Montana, made it official that, starting in January, Democrats will control both houses of Congress for the first time in 12 years. With that control comes the leverage to block President Bush's priorities -- including nominees -- and to force him to consider Democrats' priorities in his last two years in the White House.
Senate Democrats pledged to work in a bipartisan spirit. Reid and Bush are to meet today at the White House to begin discussing common goals and opportunities for compromise, which include an immigration overhaul that would give some of the nation's estimated 12 million illegal residents a path to citizenship.
But Republicans will move in the lame-duck session set to begin next week to confirm former CIA Director Robert Gates as Bush's new defense secretary before they lose their majority.
A senior aide to retiring Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said confirmation hearings for Gates will begin the week of Dec. 4.
Bush gave congressional Republicans a long list of items Thursday that he wants them to accomplish during the session, including routine government funding bills and Vietnam's trade status.
Democrats said their top priority upon taking power in January will be to pressure Bush to withdraw troops from Iraq.
Reid and other Democrats also reiterated their plans to raise the minimum wage and expand healthcare and college access.
For all their expectations, however, Senate Democrats conceded that their 51-49 majority won't be enough to pass controversial legislation.
Senate majority
Confused by different sets of numbers being used to describe control of the U.S. Senate in wake of Tuesday's elections?
Here's what happened:
Voters have elected 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans and two independents to the Senate.
Nonetheless, Democrats have an effective majority of 51-49 because the two independents have said they will function as Democrats under the parliamentary rules of the Senate.
Senate majority
Confused by different sets of numbers being used to describe control of the U.S. Senate in wake of Tuesday's elections?
Here's what happened:
Voters have elected 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans and two independents to the Senate.
Nonetheless, Democrats have an effective majority of 51-49 because the two independents have said they will function as Democrats under the parliamentary rules of the Senate.
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