GOP Senator May Jump to Opposition

Sen. James M. Jeffords of Vermont, a lifelong Republican who finds himself increasingly at odds with the Bush White House, on Monday refused to rule out a possible switch to the Democratic Party that would end GOP control of the Senate.

Top Senate Democrats have approached Jeffords twice in recent weeks, according to a top Democratic aide. A switch by Jeffords would break the Senate’s 50-50 party split and give Democrats control of the chamber for the first time since 1994.

The moderate Jeffords, who won a third Senate term in November, has declined overtures from Democrats during much of his career. However, after straining his relationship with the White House by opposing President Bush’s signature tax cut plan, Jeffords appears increasingly tempted.

A spokesman for Jeffords declined to comment on a report that Democrats had offered the senator the chairmanship on either of two committees. But asked whether Jeffords was considering switching sides, the spokesman issued a statement that was decidedly ambivalent.

“This is not about committee chairmanships,” said the spokesman, Erik Smulson. “Regardless of party label, Jeffords will continue to do what is best for Vermont and the nation.”

The statement fanned speculation on Capitol Hill, and added to the ongoing drama of a Senate whose fragile political balance has magnified the attention paid to party loyalties, legal troubles facing lawmakers and even the physical well-being of each member.

Republicans close to Jeffords were skeptical Monday that he would leave their ranks.

“I’m sure there are those that have urged him to do that,” said Senate Majority leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.), who until recently was a member of a singing quartet with Jeffords. “He’s never indicated anything of that nature to me.”

Sen. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, who also opposed the administration’s tax cut plan, said he would be surprised if his fellow GOP moderate switched sides. More likely, Chafee said, Jeffords is sending a message to the White House “that, don’t forget, my vote is important.”

Jeffords and Chafee were largely responsible for forcing the White House to give up on its aim of passing a $1.6-trillion, 10-year tax cut. Instead, the two GOP moderates joined with a number of Democrats to pare the Senate’s recommendation to $1.35 trillion over 11 years.

The move soured Jeffords’ relationship with the White House, and some on Capitol Hill believe the senator has been singled out for petty punishment. For example, he was not invited to a recent White House ceremony honoring a high school teacher from Vermont, even though the lawmaker is a champion of education causes and heads the Senate’s education committee.

More recently, Jeffords and others have suggested that the White House may be planning to punish him by derailing a measure extending price protections for dairy farmers in Vermont and other Northeastern states.

The White House dismissed such concerns, saying that penalizing members for their positions is not the president’s style.

“President Bush recognizes that members may disagree with him on certain issues from time to time,” said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

McClellan noted that no lawmakers were invited to the ceremony honoring the teacher, and that the White House hasn’t taken a position on the dairy compact.

The Washington Times reported Monday that Democrats offered Jeffords the chairmanship of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and later, as an alternative, said he could continue to head the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Ranit Schmelzer, a spokeswoman for Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), declined to comment on efforts to recruit Jeffords. But, she said, “we would love to have Sen. Jeffords or any other Republican senator join the Democratic Party.” Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) is in line to chair the education panel should Democrats control the Senate. A spokesman for him said he was not aware of any agreement to have Kennedy step aside if Jeffords were to switch parties.

Republicans control the Senate and its committees because Vice President Dick Cheney, a Republican, casts the tie-breaking vote in the 50-50 chamber.

Jeffords, who has represented Vermont in Congress since being elected to the House in 1974, has a long history of straying from his party. In the early 1980s, he voted against then-President Reagan’s sweeping tax cut. The administration retaliated by cutting off Jeffords’ supply of White House tourist passes.