GOP Move To Secure Thurmond Seat

A Republican lawmaker has introduced a bill that would guarantee GOP control of the U.S. Senate should 98-year-old Sen. Strom Thurmond not be able to finish his term.

The measure would require the South Carolina governor to fill Senate vacancies with a person of the same party as the previous senator. Thurmond is a Republican; Gov. Jim Hodges is a Democrat.

If Thurmond couldn't finish his term that ends in 2003, Hodges could appoint a Democrat and break the 50-50 Senate split. Republicans control the Senate because Vice President Dick Cheney casts the tie-breaking vote.

Hodges has refused to commit to appointing a Democrat, saying only it would be someone who would not run for re-election to a full term. Again Thursday, he would not discuss the issue.

"I think it's inappropriate to even be talking about senatorial appointments. We have a U.S. senator who is serving us and I am confident that he will continue to serve us effectively until the end of the term," Hodges said.

His spokesman, Morton Brilliant, called it "the kind of bill that circling vultures come up with."

The measure, introduced by Rep. Chip Limehouse, has strong support in the House, but it faces a chillier reception in the Senate, where Republicans hold only a 24-22 majority.

Some Senate Republicans oppose the bill.

"If the shoe was on the other foot, I wouldn't want my governor to be restricted by that," said Sen. Larry Grooms, a Republican.

But Limehouse believes the elected party should remain in office.

"One governor, be he Republican or Democrat, shouldn't have the power to reverse the will of the voters of South Carolina," he said.