The US Congress: Time for Change?

The 108th US Congress will convene on 7 January 2003 under very different partisan leadership. House Democrat party leader Richard Gephardt will return to the back benches after almost two decades in his party leadership. His successor is Nancy Pelosi, a rather left-of-center Representative from northern California. Ms. Pelosi is the first woman to lead a political party in either House of Congress.

Leading Republicans in the House will be Texas Congressman and former Majority Whip Tom Delay. He succeeds Texas Congressman Dick Armey who served as Majority Leader since 1994 when he replaced Illinois Congressman Bob Michaels who retired to allow New Gingrich to assume the duties of Speaker. Known for his persuasive vote-securing tactics, Mr. Delay relies on very direct delivery of his ideas. During the House debate on the 1995 Clinton crime bill, for example, Mr. Delay observed that: "The President tells us this crime bill will put a hundred thousand more police on the streets. I am telling the House it will not". (16 September 1995). Mr. Delay's assessment of the bill's effects inevitably were entirely correct.

Representative Dennis Hastert will remain Speaker of the House. Mr. Hastert became Speaker during the 1999 Clintom impeachment proceedings. After Louisiana Congressman Robert Livingstone withdrew as Speaker Designate, House Republicans scrambled to find a new candidate. They selected Dennis Hastert of Illinois, a conservative Republican who could encourage co-operation from moderate Republicans and conservative Democrats. Mr. Hastert has been quite effective as Speaker and applies a rather behind the scenes leadership strategy.

The Senate will also have some leadership changes. Senator Tom Daschle will remain the Democrat party leader. On the Republican side of the Senate things have been a bit more interesting recently. Tennessee Senator Bill Frist will replace Mississippi Senator Trent Lott as Majority Leader. Mr. Lott was forced to resign as Majority Leader after he made comments which some political groups deemed racist. Although this was not the first time Mr. Lott made these assertions, it was the first time anybody took note of them. Mr. Lott dithered from staunch partisan to mushy moderate depending on the circumstances. Many Republicans blame Mr. Lott's lack of leadership during the Clinton impeachment trial for Mr. Clinton's acquital. By contrast during the House impeachment hearings when Mr. Clinton sent cruise missiles against Iraq, Mr. Lott issued a statement to the effect that he supported the US Armed Forces, but he did not support their current mission. The new Majority Leader Mr. Frist is generally regarded as a "compassionate conservative". Since his accession as Majority Leader, Mr. Frist has received favorable press coverage and is generally considered a scandal-free safe pair of hands.

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