Senate Dems Eye Committee Chairs, Lieberman Likely Loser

Banking on victories this election and other changes, top Senate Democrats are already sizing up which plum committees they want to chair. (The Hill) Joe Lieberman is likely to be stripped of his Homeland Security assignment, though not expunged from the party for supporting John McCain.

Daniel Akaka (Hawaii) may fill Lieberman’s chairmanship. Nonagenarian Robert Byrd (W.V.) is likely to be honorably moved off Appropriations, to be replaced by Daniel Inouye (Hawaii), as Patrick Leahy has indicated a desire to stay on at Judiciary to oversee anticipated Supreme Court nominations. Christopher Dodd might fill Joe Biden’s role in the Foreign Relations Committee, though he might also stay on at Banking, or move to the Health, Education, Labor and Pension committee should Ted Kennedy’s health fail. If Dodd moves from Banking, Jack Reed (R.I.) might replace him, as Tim Johnson (S.D.) is still recuperating from his stroke in 2006.

Other assignments being spoken of include Jack Rockefeller (W.V.) for Commerce, Dianne Feinstein (Cal.) for Select Intelligence, Charles Schumer (N.Y.) for Rules and Administration, and Patty Murray (Wash.) for Veterans’ Affairs.