Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) just appeared on CNN, and was asked about the loss of his seniority on his committees. He responded that Harry Reid made a commitment to him that he would keep the seniority, and he’s confident he’ll get it back “in due course,” apparently after the 2010 elections:
“Sen. Reid said that I would maintain my committee assignments, and that my seniority would be established as if I had been elected in 1980 as a Democrat,” said Specter. “Now that has to be ratified by the caucus, and I think in due course that will be done. It may not — we did agree, but as to committee assignments, that would await until the new election, and the caucus action overall apparently is gonna wait until after the election. But I’m confident that Sen. Reid’s assurances will be fulfilled.”