U.S.: Specter goes from senior Republican to junior Democrat
- His defection came at the cost of committee rankings. Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, whose switch to the Democratic party sent shockwaves through D.C. last week, did so at the cost of hard-fought-for seniority. The senate passed a resolution last night making him the junior Democrat on all the committees he serves. A rep for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he could gain his seniority back after the 2010 elections. But still … it’s like, welcome to the party, jerk. source