Conn. Loses Clout With Dodd, Lieberman Exits

With Sen. Chris Dodd retired and Sen. Joe Lieberman on the way out, Connecticut voters are losing decades' worth of legislative seniority that has benefitted the state economically, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The powerful committee chairmanships that both veteran Democrats have used to aid Connecticut won’t go to their successors for years, if ever.

“There’s a lot of seniority going out the door, and Connecticut is probably going to feel the effects of that, and not in a positive way,” said Gary Rose, professor of politics at Sacred Heart University.

In the Senate, seniority dictates committee assignments. Until he retires at the end of his current term, Lieberman will remain as chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, a valuable post for a state with military workers.

But banking services, another Connecticut industry, no longer has Dodd in the catbird seat of the Banking Committee.

Both Dodd and Lieberman faced declining poll numbers and uphill re-election battles.