JAMES M. JEFFORDS - AUTOGRAPHED INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH - HFSID 277229

JAMES JEFFORDS
When he left the Republican Party, the Senate changed hands.
Photograph inscribed and signed: "Eddie & Betty/Best wishes/Jim Jeffords". B/w, 8x10. Photo: Marty LaVor. On June 16, 1999, the Senate passed the Work Incentives Improvement Act by a vote of 99-0; Senator Tom Harkin was out of the country. One of the bill's primary co-sponsors was James M. Jeffords (1934-2014) Ted Kennedy and Bill Roth. The bill included new tax credits, services and expanded health benefits for workers with disabilities. After serving as a Republican Congressman from Vermont from 1975-1989 and a Republican Senator from Vermont since 1989, Jim Jeffords switched his party affiliation to Independent on June 6, 2001. Before that date, the U.S. Senate was equally divided: 50 Republicans, 50 Democrats. In case of a tie, the President of the Senate (Vice President of the United States), in this case Republican V.P. Dick Cheney, would cast the tie-breaking vote. All Senate committee chairmen were Republicans. With Jeffords' switch, there were 50 Democrats, 49 Republicans and 1 Independent. All Senate committee chairmen became Democrats and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) switched jobs. The Republicans regained control of the Senate after the 2002 elections, which resulted in 51 Republicans, 48 Democrats and 1 Independent. Jeffords did not seek re-election in 2006, replaced by another independent (Bernard Sanders), as the Democrats again recaptured the narrowly divided chamber. Fine condition.