Charles Grassley’s aides say the Republican will retain his powerful job in the Senate. Mississippi Senator Trent Lott’s resignation yesterday as Republican Leader opened the possibility Lott would step in as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. It’s a job Grassley had when Republicans held control of the Senate. According to a statement issued yesterday, Grassley expects to be chairman in January when Republican regain majority control of the Senate. Grassley’s been working behind the scenes since the election to develop a new tax cut plan. Grassley earlier this week, though, said the committee’s first order of business would be to extend the duration of jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed who’ve been hurt by the recession.
