Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 31, 1994 TAG: 9409010011
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
How effective is an independent in the Senate?
- Ann Kohinke, Roanoke
COLEMAN: "If I'm elected senator, I will have a major impact on the first day, when I cast my vote to give Republicans control of the Senate so we can put a stop to President Clinton's big-government agenda.
There are only 100 senators, so any individual who has the commitment, energy and leadership skills can have an impact.
Virginia had an independent senator once before - Harry F. Byrd Jr. - and he was a major force.
It takes more than one vote to pass a law, so a senator must also have the ability to work with his colleagues to forge constructive solutions to national problems."
NORTH: "An independent is not effective in the U.S. Senate.
The U.S. Senate is organized around the party system - Republican and Democratic - and assignments to committees are given based on the ratio of each party in the Senate.
An independent usually would have to 'caucus' or vote with one of the parties to gain a committee assignment.
A person is more effective if he or she belongs to one of the major political parties in the U.S. Senate."
ROBB: "The two-party system may be imperfect, but it's served the nation pretty well over the past couple of centuries.
Whether we like it or not, much of the nation's business is done through the leadership of the Democratic and Republican parties.
It would be very difficult for an independent to be as effective as a member of either party, and an independent could never hold a leadership role of any kind."
WILDER: "There is no independent in the U.S. Senate, and when I am elected, I plan to sit with one or the other of the two parties for purposes of organizing the Senate.
Given the narrow margin between the number of Republican and Democratic senators, an independent in the U.S. Senate could be extremely effective.
Both Republicans and Democrats may want me to caucus with them so they may increase their overall numbers.
Both parties may offer me plum committee assignments as lures.
And, I am confident, neither party will take my vote for granted."
Got a question? Call our Citizens' Q&A line, and we'll make an effort to track down the candidates. Phone 981-3119 or (800)346-1234, ext. 9. Or E-mail us at bwarreninfi.net and be sure to include your name, address and phone number.
Keywords:
POLITICS
Memo: ***CORRECTION***