But such is not the case with chairpersons of Congressional committees. As chairperson of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jesse Helms has been in a position to refuse to hold hearings on confirming a new ambassador to the U.N., or on scheduling a vote on paying U.S. back dues to the United Nations. As chairperson of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Orin Hatch has been able to block hundreds of judicial appointments and build a frenzied opposition to nominees such as former Missouri Supreme Court justice Ronnie White. Why should their Democratic counterparts be able to do the same when they assume power. Our system is so beholden to encouraging power and perpetuating conflict that we have allowed committees to be fiefdoms for those with Napoleonic egos.
Committees now function as major barriers to a effective democracy.
But since committee chairs sit on pedestals of obstruction, the Jeffords action has the effect of changing who paralyzes Congress. Let us not place too much significance on our initial reaction to Senator Jeffords announcement. Yes, political power in the Senate will shift, at least temporarily, from the Republicans to the Democrats. But more importantly, his action points out how removed our political system is from true democracy.