In what will be the first ever mid-session switch of party control of the Senate, Jim Jeffords is set to announce he’s leaving the GOP today. Sen. Jeffords, currently R-Vt., has been having trouble with the Republican leadership, especially lately.

The Associated Press reports that Jeffords will become an independent and vote with the Democrats for leadership positions.

That will make Tom Daschle, D-S.D., Senate majority leader, giving Democrats the chairmenships of Senate committees and ending the Strom Thurmond death watch.

It might seem a little flaky for Jeffords to take Republican money to win the Senate seat in 2000 and then drop the party in 2001, but the switch has been a long time coming.

Jeffords has been a moderate-to-liberal senator since he was first elected by the citizens of Vermont in 1988. He is pro-choice and votes with the Democrats on many issues, including the environment, education and the minimum wage.

Recently, the senator asked Bush for more spending on education for disabled students as a condition of supporting the president’s tax cut, and the White House refused. Many GOP members have said it was Jeffords’ fault Bush’s tax cut went down to $1.35 trillion from the original $1.6 trillion.

Shortly after that, Jeffords wasn’t invited to a ceremony at the White House honoring the National Teacher of the Year, a high school educator from Jeffords’ home state of Vermont. There was also talk that as retaliation for Jeffords not supporting the tax cut, the GOP might try to change a Northeast dairy compact that benefits Vermont farmers.

Democratic control of the Senate doesn’t look certain, however. Jeffords exiting the party will create a mad rush by Republicans to get moderate Democrats to cross over. Possible targets are Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga., and Sen. John Breaux, D-La., both of whom have said they won’t switch over.

Jeffords’ defection, which may not take effect immediately, is a victory for voters. The vast majority of Americans are moderate, which is why fringe candidates like Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan will never be able to win a large scale election.

According to public opinion polls, most people want split party control of Congress and the presidency. The opposite party of the president almost always gains seats during the president’s term.

Having different parties control different houses of Congress may lead to more deadlock, but it will also lead to more compromise.

Democrats will set the Senate agenda, but in order to get through both Houses, bills will need to have the support of both parties.

If Jeffords does end up leaving the GOP, the face of Washington politics will change, and the majority of Americans should agree it’s for the better.

Jocelyn Marcus is a junior in English from Ames. She is managing editor of the Daily.