Outlook for the Senate

I love the Senate! I like the House, but I love the Senate.

I have researched and observed the U.S. Senate for decades. For years, members and senior committee staff would talk about the Senate class of 1958 as one of the greatest classes of the 20th century, if not of all time. This class included such outstanding senators as Michigan’s Phil Hart, Maine’s Edmond Muskie and West Virginia’s Robert Byrd.

While there certainly have been terrific Senators since, I haven’t heard similar talk about an entire Senate class…until now. In the past three or four months I consistently have been hearing what a remarkable group the Senate class of 2006 is shaping up to be.

I am hearing a significant amount of compliments about the quality of these legislators, specifically: Missouri’s Claire McCaskill, Minnesota’s Amy Klobuchar, Ohio’s Sherrod Brown, Montana’s Jon Tester, Virginia’s Jim Webb, Pennsylvania’s Robert Casey, Jr., and Rhode Island’s Sheldon Whitehouse.

I am impressed with these legislators myself. As someone who loves the Senate, I am excited that this class may have a significant impact on the institution. They are shining bright on the radar screen.

I think that one, among many, of the traits of Ted Kennedy that we will miss going forward is his ability to get legislation done. He was a great legislator and a terrific compromiser. He was able to cut deals and move the legislative ball forward like no other. Looking over the legislative landscape, I don’t know who will fill this void.