After serving in the Senate as a Republican for more than 12 years, Sen. Jim Jeffords, R-Vermont, will announce today whether he will be leaving the Republican party.

The GOP is currently in control of the 50-50 Senate with Vice President Dick Cheney’s tie-breaking vote.

If Jeffords officially breaks from the Republican party to become an independent, the Democrats will have a 50-49-1 majority in the Senate.

This will be the first time in U.S. history the Senate has changed control from one party to another while in session.

Aides say Jeffords has stated he will vote Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., for Senate majority leader, according to The Associated Press

With the Democrats holding the majority of the Senate and Daschle serving as the majority leader, Republicans would lose control of Senate committees and the power to set the agenda.

Rumors claiming Senator Zell Miller, D-Georgia, was considering making a switch from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party were put to an end Wednesday afternoon when he said no such change would occur.

– Zach Calef