THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 10, 1995 TAG: 9503100350
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: GUY FRIDDELL
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
In a heated closed session Monday, Republican senators decided not to punish Mark Hatfield, the only one of them to vote against the balanced-budget amendment.
The 72-year-old Hatfield, who often goes against the majority's grain, will continue to head the appropriations committee; but there will be a year's study on how better to enforce loyalty among Republicans on ``core'' issues.
In posing the study, Republican senators are as naive as children in a sandbox. The question, one debated for centuries, goes to the central being of any legislator.
In reaching a difficult decision on a bill, does one simply heed the wishes of a majority of the folks back home or use one's own judgment? In any session, there's scarcely a week when the choice doesn't arise for legislators - local, state and national.
Most of Oregon's newspaper editors, even those on the other side of the issue, defend Hatfield's right to follow his conscience.
The attack on Hatfield arose with newcomers challenging the senatorial system of choosing committee chairmen by their seniority in climbing the ladder of longevity.
For decades, under this system, conservative Democrats from the one-party South headed major committees, pretty much as long as they lived, and used their clout to block attempted reforms, notably in civil rights.
In the South, names of the dead (noted and voted from tombstones) kept many a dead head in office.
During the mid-1960s, thanks in part to Lyndon Johnson's arm-twisting, the Congress gave blacks the right to vote - which helped elect moderates and change the minds of conservatives. Civil rights started to flourish.
And, ironically, the moderates began to cherish the seniority system that they formerly deplored. Now moderates and liberals are among its avid defenders.
But thanks to the present revolution by new GOP conservatives in the House of Representatives, Speaker Newt Gingrich ignored seniority and appointed chairmen who agreed with him on issues.
So proposals in the conservative GOP Contract With America move swiftly through the House only to become mired in the Senate.
Although all but one senator supported the balanced-budget dictate, moderates saw issues down the road on which they would feel compelled to break the lock step.
Democrats, who know little or no discipline, are enjoying the GOP fracas. Nebraska Democrat James Exon, a supporter of the amendment and of Hatfield's right to dissent, had advice for the GOP.
``It's about the time the freshmen members of this organization come into this body with a little bit of humbleness,'' he said on the floor.
The Republicans' desire for order brings to mind what Will Rogers said about his affiliation: ``I'm not a member of any organized political party. I'm a Democrat.'' by CNB