Snowe fights to keep Jeffords in GOP fold

WASHINGTON – The Republican Party may be losing one of its members Thursday when Sen. James Jeffords, a Republican from Vermont, decides to become an independent, but for Sen. Olympia Snowe, it’s a much more personal loss.

The two senators have supported each other on 64 bills so far this session as co-sponsors, they serve together on a centrist group of Senate members who hold similar viewpoints, they both represent strong New England issues, and they both often have spoken out against the conservatives in their party, including the White House.

“Personally and professionally I’m very sad about it. I’m losing a friend within our party. We shared voices on the issues we care about,” the Maine Republican senator said. “We have been able to have a moderating influence on our party.”

Snowe contacted the White House and the Republican leadership Monday night when she learned from Jeffords that he was strongly considering leaving the party. Then she and other Senate Republicans met with the Vermont senator early Wednesday morning and urged him to delay any announcement that he may be leaving the GOP so they could persuade him to stay. He was expected to make the announcement Wednesday afternoon, but delayed it until Thursday with the intention of flying back to his home state.

Snowe said she was hoping the Republican leadership could have swayed Jeffords by addressing any disagreements he had with their viewpoints.

“Jim has already sent a strong message that’s been heard and felt and will be addressed,” Snowe said. “I’m hoping in some way we can convey that to him and respond to his concerns that change the way our fellow colleagues operate.”

If Jeffords does bow out of the Republican Party, Snowe and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, stand to lose their power on the subcommittees they currently chair. Snowe would lose her seat as chairman of the Oceans and Fisheries subcommittee, which has wielded her power in Maine’s fishing industry, and as chairman of the Finance Health Care subcommittee.

Collins would no longer serve as chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

Collins declined to comment on the presumption that Jeffords is switching parties. She took part Wednesday in one of the meetings with Jeffords and other Republicans about his decision to switch.