BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - The winners of two Senate races in Georgia are Democrats, meaning the tie-breaking vote in the Senate will be up to Incoming Vice President Kamala Harris. But Georgia swinging in favor of Democrats has an impact here in the Green Mountain State.
UVM Associate Professor of Political Science Ellen Andersen says since the 1960s, Georgia has been historically consistently a Republican stronghold, but she says trends in recent years show Georgia electing two Democrats to the Senate isn’t all that surprising.
But now, it’s the first Deep South State to flip, meaning Democrats can capitalize on a solid Republican state starting to break apart.
Andersen says she doesn’t expect nearby states, like Mississippi or Alabama, to begin electing Democrats to Congress anytime soon, but she says it does show a crack in what was always a Republican stronghold.
“We know that Georgia has been a little bit different. We know that a lot of the base for these Democrat wins come from these urban areas, it comes from Georgia, it comes from Savannah and the counties that surround them,” said Andersen.
Andersen also says those studying political science believe a state like North Carolina would sooner be counted for Democrats than a state like Georgia, so they are waiting to see if a new pattern is emerging in the Deep South.
Starting on January 20, the U.S. will again be a unified party government.
According to Andersen, it’s common in Washington when a new administration takes over, it gives democratic leaders, two years of control of the Capitol.
Operating under a unified party government for Democrats or Republicans gives them leverage for legislation passage, as well as appointees to federal positions.
Andersen says for President-elect Joe Biden, this means that he can first surround himself with the people of his choice. From there, Andersen says he can focus on legislation.
But according to Andersen, one of the most important powers now in the hands of Democrats is the power of Agenda setting.
“Agenda setting power is an enormous form of power and it’s power that doesn’t look like it’s power. Because it’s not the same as saying ‘Hey look we forced this bill trough and we got it enacted.’ It’s the power to say, we will consider this bill, and not consider this one, we will open the floor for you to speak, but not you to speak. So it’s kind of a quiet form of power,” said Andersen.
And Georgia swinging impacts Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy’s position,
Senator Leahy is currently serving as vice chair to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Once Biden has been sworn in, Leahy will assume a new role on the same committee, but one of the most important in the Capitol.
“That’s where the money is, so in the House and in the Senate, you pass bills, hopefully, you make laws, but it’s not just making laws, it’s not just making the law happen, it’s funding. Its biggest power is allocating money, deciding where the money goes,” said Andersen.
Andersen says historically the chairs of the Appropriations Committees in both the House and the Senate typically take good care of their home states. She also says Senator Leahy has a strong track record of looking out for Vermont and doesn’t expect that to change over the next two years.
Copyright 2021 WCAX. All rights reserved.
"impact" - Google News
January 11, 2021 at 08:32PM
https://ift.tt/38wqJyz
Results from Georgia's runoff races to impact Sen. Leahy's role - WCAX
"impact" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2RIFll8
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Results from Georgia's runoff races to impact Sen. Leahy's role - WCAX"
Post a Comment