After Seniority Flap, Specter Lands Plum Gig

Judiciary committee members share spotlight with nominee

(NEWSER) - Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation looks likely, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be some drama between here and there. Politico runs down which senators have the most to win—and the most to lose:

• Patrick Leahy: Facing his first nominee as judiciary chairman, Leahy’s eager to get Sotomayor through ASAP, but risks Republican wrath if he rushes.

Dems disappoint defector with junior slots after he speaks up for Coleman

(NEWSER) - Party-switcher Arlen Specter's comment that Republican Norm Coleman should be Minnesota's senator cost him seniority on Senate panels yesterday, a source told Politico. His gaffe was the final straw for Senate Dems already angry about the prospect of being bumped from senior positions by the 29-year senator. A resolution last night switched Specter to the Democratic side of the five panels he serves on. But contrary to what he expected, Specter was placed in junior slots, reports the Washington Post. More»

Senate honchos fume as newbie prepares to leapfrog to top jobs

(NEWSER) - Some top Democratic senators are rebelling against the deal that brought Arlen Specter into the fold, the Hill reports. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told the aisle-crosser he could keep the 28 years of seniority he gained as a GOP senator, infuriating long-serving Democrats whom Specter will now likely leapfrog over to the top of important panels. More»

Revamped version said to pay for itself

(NEWSER) - Smile, Jon Stewart : the fight for a 9/11 health care bill may not be over, despite Republicans having blocked it weeks ago. New York’s senators have edited their bill to provide care for first responders, and they hold that the new version will "pay for itself," Reuters reports. “We believe we are on a path to victory by the end of this week,” said Sen. Charles Schumer. More»

Bill to see vote this week, says House majority leader

(NEWSER) - Democrats haven't stopped complaining about President Obama’s tax cut deal—one House member even called it Obama's "Gettysburg"—but it looks like they’ll pass it anyway, Time reports. “We're not going to hold this thing up at the end of the day,” said Chris Van Hollen, the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee. Steny Hoyer, meanwhile, told Politico that, "we will pass a bill, as opposed to not passing anything." More»