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Lieberman drops Centrist Coalition for more conservative company
Raw Story/Roll Call
December 21, 2006

Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut has decided to end his co-chairmanship of the Centrist Coalition in the Senate and will partner with a more conservative senator in a new grouping, according to a story published yesterday by Roll Call.

Senator Lieberman has for some time partnered with Republican Olympia Snowe of Maine in a bipartisan Centrist Coalition to work on legislation. But Roll Call's Emily Pierce reports that the two had parted ways after having a difference of opinion on how the group should cooperate across party lines to forge compromises.

Lieberman is now forming a new bipartisan grouping with Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee. Alexander sought the Republican presidential nomination in both 1996 and 2000, when he became known for campaign appearances in a red flannel shirt. Lieberman's spokesman Marshall Wittman stated that the purpose of his work with Alexander was "to create as many venues for bipartisan discussion as possible."

The American Conservative Union, a body that rates Members of Congress according to their votes on political issues, illustrates the ideological difference between the former and soon-to-be partners of Lieberman. While Senator Snowe had a 2005 rating of 32 out of 100, and a lifetime rating of 50 from the group, the ACU gives Senator Alexander a rating of 88 both in 2005 and over the life of his career in the Senate.

The full article can be accessed by subscribers at Roll Call's website. An excerpt is provided below.

Indeed, on Monday, Snowe and Landrieu sent a letter to 26 Senators asking those who are interested to gather at 4 p.m. Jan. 11 at a location to be determined to discuss how to move forward with a newly constituted bipartisan coalition.

The letter was sent to centrist Senators as well as conservatives who have shown a willingness to work across party lines in the past. The list included Sens. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.).

Snowe and Landrieu specify in their letter that the new group would be focused on discussing "current and upcoming issues on which we may want to work together." But the first meeting is intended as a planning session to decide on a name and frequency of meetings, said Ferrier.

While still in the preliminary stages of development, the goal for Lieberman and Alexander is to create a group of Republicans and Democrats that primarily get together to socialize. However, Wittmann said legislative issues would likely be discussed as well. They plan to call it the Bipartisan Members Group.

Wittmann said the "important difference" between the two groups is that people attending the Lieberman-Alexander gathering "would not necessarily come into the group to come to agreement on issues."

Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut has decided to end his co-chairmanship of the Centrist Coalition in the Senate and will partner with a more conservative senator in a new grouping, according to a story published yesterday by Roll Call.

Senator Lieberman has for some time partnered with Republican Olympia Snowe of Maine in a bipartisan Centrist Coalition to work on legislation. But Roll Call's Emily Pierce reports that the two had parted ways after having a difference of opinion on how the group should cooperate across party lines to forge compromises.

Lieberman is now forming a new bipartisan grouping with Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee. Alexander sought the Republican presidential nomination in both 1996 and 2000, when he became known for campaign appearances in a red flannel shirt. Lieberman's spokesman Marshall Wittman stated that the purpose of his work with Alexander was "to create as many venues for bipartisan discussion as possible."

The American Conservative Union, a body that rates Members of Congress according to their votes on political issues, illustrates the ideological difference between the former and soon-to-be partners of Lieberman. While Senator Snowe had a 2005 rating of 32 out of 100, and a lifetime rating of 50 from the group, the ACU gives Senator Alexander a rating of 88 both in 2005 and over the life of his career in the Senate.

The full article can be accessed by subscribers at Roll Call's website. An excerpt is provided below.

Indeed, on Monday, Snowe and Landrieu sent a letter to 26 Senators asking those who are interested to gather at 4 p.m. Jan. 11 at a location to be determined to discuss how to move forward with a newly constituted bipartisan coalition.

The letter was sent to centrist Senators as well as conservatives who have shown a willingness to work across party lines in the past. The list included Sens. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.).

Snowe and Landrieu specify in their letter that the new group would be focused on discussing "current and upcoming issues on which we may want to work together." But the first meeting is intended as a planning session to decide on a name and frequency of meetings, said Ferrier.

While still in the preliminary stages of development, the goal for Lieberman and Alexander is to create a group of Republicans and Democrats that primarily get together to socialize. However, Wittmann said legislative issues would likely be discussed as well. They plan to call it the Bipartisan Members Group.

Wittmann said the "important difference" between the two groups is that people attending the Lieberman-Alexander gathering "would not necessarily come into the group to come to agreement on issues."

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