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Vol. 24, No. 9 November 13, 1998

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Columbia Alumni from Both Parties Are Re-Elected; Overall, Democrats Pick Up 5 House Seats

By Ellen S. Smith

While Democrats fared better than expected on Election Day, Columbians from both parties in elected office were victorious.

All of Columbia's alumni in Congress were re-elected. They are: Sen. Judd Gregg, CC'69 (R-N.H.); Rep. Rosa De Lauro, MA'66 (D-Conn.); Rep. Sander Levin, MA'54 (D-Mich.); Rep. Major Owens (D-N.Y.), who attended Columbia; Rep. Jerrold Nadler, CC'69 (D-N.Y.). Columbia's honorary degree recipients in Congress are John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.).

When the smoke cleared, the House was left with a total of 223 Republicans, 211 Democrats and one Independent. The Senate remained with 55 Republicans and 45 Democrats. There are 40 new members in the House (23 Democrats and 17 Republicans), many of whom have had prior political experience and are moderates. Of the six incumbents seeking re-election who were defeated, 5 were Republicans and 1 was a Democrat.

The majority of the Senate's eight new members (4 Democrats and 4 Republicans) have also had substantial experience in government. Of the three incumbent Senators who were defeated, two were Republicans and one was a Democrat.

House of Representatives members will begin their orientations next week. Leadership elections and committee assignments will be made the week of Nov. 16. Since the resignation of Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), current Appropriations Committee Chairman Bob Livingston (R-La.) has emerged as a contender for that post. Also, Majority Leader Armey (R-Tex.) faces a challenge from Rep. Steve Largent (R-Okla.). Other challengers are also likely to emerge.

Leadership elections, committee assignments and freshmen orientation begin in the Senate Dec. 1-3. Senator-elect Charles Schumer may be offered plum assignments because of his big win in New York.

The New York Congressional delegation lost no incumbents running for re-election. Newly elected members replacing retiring members or those running for other office include: Joseph Crowley (D), Anthony Weiner (D), John Sweeney (R) and Thomas Reynolds (R). In each case these new members replace a member of the same party. New York's new Democratic Senator has not expressed a desire for particular committee assignments, but most expect Schumer to seek Judiciary where he made his name as a member of the House.

In higher education, Schumer campaigned on the need to allow tuition to be tax-deductible; requested a study of the costs of higher education, and has been involved in animal research and campus crime issues.

For additional information, please contact Ellen S. Smith, Assistant Vice President and Director of Federal Relations, ess9@columbia.edu.