if theres a 50-50 Senate split

[LSK]

Who controls committess? Who is the majority?

[WI_DEM]

1. Cheney would break the tie for the GOP

or they might get Lieberman to jump rank if he wins.

[Rex]

2. Means Cheney would get to vote in case of a tie.

Gives him a lot more power. It won't be a 50/50 split. Independents would make it uneven in a two party count. Lieberman would have a huge amount of power. More reason he needs to lose.

[MrCoffee]

3. Repubs keep control of committees. n/t

[Eric J in MN]

4. The Republicans would. Whichever party controls the White House...

...controls the Senate when there is a tie.

[Maddy McCall]

5. First 50-50 Senate split was in 2000...a plan was hammered out then.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa010501c.htm

Dateline: 01/05/01

The United States Senate, split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, agreed today on an unprecedented plan to share power evenly in the several committees that work out specifics of proposed bills and are now considering President-Bush's nominations for top federal jobs.

By voice vote, Senators agreed that either the majority or minority leader can declare that a bill or nomination being held up in a committee by a tie vote be advanced to the floor of the Senate for consideration.

Senators hope the action will help prevent future legislation from suffering political gridlock due to the partisan divisions resulting from the 50-50 split of power.

After the Jan. 20 inauguration, Republicans will hold what is known as a "nominal" majority in the Senate due to Vice President Dick Cheney's tie-breaking 51st vote. Cheney, as Vice President, also serves as president of the Senate, a position required to vote in the event of ties.

John Adams holds the all-time record for tie-breaking votes in the Senate by a Vice President at 29, with John C. Calhoun close behind at 28.

"This resolution may haunt me, but it's fair and it allows us to go on with the people's business," said Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi. Lott will regain his spot as Senate Majority Leader on Jan. 20 after having served a temporary stint as Minority Leader during the 17 days Vice President Al Gore presides over the 50-50 Senate sworn in January 3.

The Senate committees, like those in the House consider legislation, conduct hearings and investigations, or carry out other assignments as instructed by the Senate leadership. No bill or presidential nomination may be acted upon by the full Senate until it has been approved by the committee considering it. Additional "conference" committees are also chosen to work out differences between Senate- and House-passed versions of bills.

[mcscajun]

6. "This resolution may haunt me..."

Yeah, he already knows the precedent set if there's a similiar 50-50 split with a Democrat in the White House. Good for goose, and all that.