The often gridlocked Democratic-led U.S. Senate will be without a top Republican dealmaker next year — likely making it even tougher to pass legislation while already disgruntled voters elect a new Congress and president.
 
Jon Kyl of Arizona was picked by colleagues on Thursday to succeed retiring Trent Lott of Mississippi as Senate Republican whip, the party’s number two position.
 
During much of his 19 years in the Senate, which included time as majority leader, Lott was a dealmaker who found common ground on major legislation with Democrats, sometimes to the chagrin of his Republican colleagues.
 
Kyl, seen as more partisan than Lott, acknowledged he doesn’t possess his predecessor’s negotiating skills, but promised to work on it. He said there is a need to make the Senate more productive and even enjoyable.
 
“It isn’t as much fun as it should be in helping to shape policy for the American people,” Kyl said in a hallway interview. “But it would be a lot more fun if we just sat down, rolled up our sleeves and work together to get things done.”
 
“Things are too partisan,” Kyl said. “Too often members of Congress approach the issues with the first goal of taking advantage of the other side, and only secondarily to try to set good policy for the American people.”
 
“I have an innate desire to try to work with people on both sides of the aisle,” Kyl said. But he added: “I’m not unmindful that in representing the people of my party, I can’t be a patsy.”

– Photo credit: Reuters/Yuri Gripas (file)