Elections unlikely to alter military debates

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Elections unlikely to alter military debates
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, November 3, 2008

WASHINGTON ¡ª Unlike two years ago, this year¡¯s congressional elections shouldn¡¯t produce major changes in military debates on Capitol Hill.

In 2006, when Democrats took control of both chambers for the first time in 12 years, it meant major changes in what bills came up for votes, who led key committees and how lawmakers dealt with military operations overseas.

With Democrats expected to retain or even enhance their margins in both the House and Senate, a similar momentum shift is unlikely when the new legislative session opens in January.

Both the House and Senate Armed Services Committee will see major changes, although likely not on the Democratic side. House Chairman Ike Skelton, D-Mo., and Senate Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., both face re-election challenges, but are expected to easily win.

But key Republican counterparts will be gone. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., ranking member of the house committee, announced his retirement after a failed presidential bid earlier this year, and former Senate committee chairman Sen. John Warner, R-Va., will leave as well.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58581