Senator Will Remain Independent

WASHINGTON —  Dean Barkley, the third-party activist appointed interim senator from Minnesota, announced Monday that he will not side with either major party during his short stay in office, allowing Democrats to keep control of the Senate during the lame-duck session -- at least for now.

That means Democrat Tom Daschle of South Dakota will remain Senate majority leader for another week or so -- giving his party a last gasp of power and visibility after its losses in the Nov. 5 elections.

Barkley’s decision ends a bizarre interlude in which the leadership of the Senate could have been changed single-handedly by a man who, until his Nov. 4 appointment by Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, was a little-known former carwash operator.

His choice may have little practical effect on the course of the postelection session, which begins today. But it adds to the sense of uncertainty and transition that has engulfed the Capitol since the elections, in which Republicans expanded their House majority and seized control of the Senate in next year’s Congress.

Republicans stood to take over the Senate immediately if Barkley had agreed to side with them on leadership questions in the lame-duck session.

Such a move would have installed Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) as majority leader. But Barkley declined to join forces with either the Democrats or the Republicans.

“I am an independent, the governor who appointed me is an independent, and I believe the best way to serve the people of Minnesota is to remain independent,” Barkley said in a statement Monday.

“Rather than adding to the partisanship that so often characterizes Congress, I would like to focus on bridging differences and helping to move important legislation forward.”

Barkley, 52, is an improbable kingmaker, thrust into the limelight when, on an hour’s notice, Ventura tapped him for the Senate.

The news came so unexpectedly that Barkley, dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, had to run home and put on a suit so he’d look presentable for the announcement ceremony. Later, he went out to a discount clothing store and bought two more suits.

He calls himself a regular “meat and potatoes” sort of guy. He likes to chew rather than smoke his $2.50 cigars because chewing is “cheaper.”

He is still unvarnished enough to admit that the HBO cable series “Sex and the City” is one of his favorite television shows, and that the newfound fame has sent his wife, Susan, into a tailspin.

Before announcing his decision to remain independent, Barkley spent part of Monday reading the Senate rule book; he said he was surprised to learn how much power the members of this club of 100 can wield.

“If you object, you bring the whole place to a halt,” he said. “I’ve been flexing my muscles thinking about whether I wanted to be a mischief-maker.”

His decision giving Democrats continued control of the Senate could delay GOP hopes of speeding up confirmation of President Bush’s judicial nominations. But Ranit Schmelzer, a spokeswoman for Daschle, discounted the significance of Barkley’s decision.

“It doesn’t change anything,” Schmelzer said. “Both Sen. Daschle and Sen. Lott have the same list of priorities for the lame-duck session.”

That agenda focuses on a handful of items: passing appropriation bills to finance the government in the fiscal year already underway, reaching agreement on creation of a Department of Homeland Security and approving a measure to provide federal backup for insurance companies against acts of terrorism.

Leaders of both parties agree that regardless of who controls the narrowly split Senate, each side must work with the other to achieve agreement on these issues.

Even without Barkley, Republicans are expected to become the majority in the Senate before the lame-duck session ends.

That will occur as soon as Republican Jim Talent is certified by Missouri officials as the new senator from that state, replacing Democratic Sen. Jean Carnahan.

Talent defeated Carnahan in last week’s vote, results of which should be certified in less than two weeks.

Talent will be sworn in earlier than others who won last week, because Carnahan had been appointed to a Senate term that expired on election day.

Barkley may have more effect on efforts to break the deadlock over Bush’s proposal to create the Homeland Security Department.

The bill stalled in the Senate over Bush’s effort to waive civil service protections for employees of the agency.

Senior Republican aides say they believe Barkley will side with the GOP on that crucial issue.

With that new leverage behind them, sources said that Republican and White House negotiators are nearing an agreement on a compromise that they believe could clear the House and Senate in short order.

Congressional leaders hope the entire lame-duck session will be brief.

They warn, however, that it could last for weeks, in part because of disputes that could arise over the appropriation bills.

Even as the lame-duck session meets this week, newly elected members of Congress will be on Capitol Hill for orientation meetings to prepare them for taking office in early January.

Also this week, House Republicans and Democrats will meet separately to elect their leaders for the new Congress. Democrats are expected to elevate Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco to become House minority leader, replacing Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri, who announced last week that he was stepping down from the leadership.

Republicans, meanwhile, are expected to select Tom DeLay of Texas to be House majority leader, replacing Dick Armey of Texas, who is retiring from Congress. DeLay currently is the House majority whip.

Barkley had the temporary power to decide who leads the lame-duck Senate because, after the death in late October of Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.), the Senate has 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans and independent James M. Jeffords of Vermont, who sides with the Democrats on leadership matters.

Barkley replaces Wellstone until the winner of last week’s Senate election in Minnesota, Republican Norm Coleman, is seated.

If Barkley had decided to side with the GOP, that would have given Republicans 50 seats -- and thus the majority, because Vice President Dick Cheney has the power to break the tie.