Security policy conflicts would intensify under GOP control

House Republicans plan to launch an assault on several Obama administration counterterrorism policies if they win a majority in November's elections, including efforts to close the military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and bring terrorism suspects to the United States for civilian trials.

But they will likely find resistance to their agenda in the Senate, where either Democrats will still be in charge or moderate Republicans might be leading key national security committees.

In what has become a ritualistic parlor game in Washington before elections, lawmakers and aides have begun plotting and speculating -- mostly privately -- over changes that will occur in the new Congress on committees dealing with intelligence and homeland security matters.

For example, House Homeland Security Committee ranking member Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., expects to reclaim the panel's gavel if the GOP wins a majority in November.

King said two of his top priorities would be stopping the White House from shutting down the Guantanamo detention facility and holding criminal trials in federal court for detainees.

Rep. Charles Dent, R-Pa., who serves as ranking member on the Homeland Security Transportation Security Subcommittee, also cited these as his top priorities in a separate interview.

King is readying a long list of oversight activities and legislation to address what he calls policy differences with the administration. This includes passing an authorization bill for the Homeland Security Department; moving a border security bill that would call for building more physical fencing; and investigating whether DHS plans to use administrative actions to legalize undocumented workers.

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., is expected to remain the panel's top Democrat.

But other plum committee assignments in the Senate and House are up in the air. Several lawmakers likely to be interested in those spots either could not be reached for comment or did not want to discuss their future positions.

The Senate Intelligence Committee will have a new top Republican, as ranking member Kit Bond, R-Mo., is retiring. It will ultimately be up to the Senate GOP leader to pick a successor because Intelligence is a select committee.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, is next in seniority, but he is expected to take the top GOP spot on the Senate Finance Committee.

The next most senior GOP senators are Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine and Saxby Chambliss of Georgia. When asked if he is interested in the slot, Chambliss would only say: "We'll just have to see what happens after the elections."

But one issue that could factor prominently in the decision is whether Republicans want a moderate like Snowe at the top of the panel. She is known for working with Democrats to advance legislation and has broken from party ranks more often than Chambliss on Intelligence Committee votes.

Conservative GOP caucus members might favor a Republican who would be more aggressive in taking on the White House, in which case Chambliss could have the advantage.

"Senator Snowe is certainly more than qualified for the position with an extensive history of supporting defense programs and counterterrorism measures and has served on both the Armed Services and House Foreign Affairs committees," her spokesman said. But he added that she is focused on "her constituents in Maine and everyone outside of the Beltway who, in these challenging economic times, are struggling mightily to find jobs and make ends meet."

On the Democratic side, Intelligence Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is expected to remain in place. Feinstein said her top priorities include making sure the budgets for U.S. intelligence agencies are properly sized; overseeing the government's cybersecurity efforts; and helping "to establish and cement" the role of the director of national intelligence.

Her other priorities include adjusting the government's acquisition plan for buying spy satellites; ensuring that U.S. counterterrorism capabilities are as strong as possible and used appropriately; and conducting oversight of intelligence products, especially national intelligence estimates, Feinstein said.

Across Capitol Hill, the House Intelligence Committee will also have a new Republican leader, as ranking member Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., is retiring. Frontrunners for the top slot are Reps. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, and Mike Rogers, R-Mich.

Both are viewed as being mostly on the same page on policy issues, and both would be expected to be aggressive in standing up to the administration. Personally, Thornberry is seen as more quiet and studious; Rogers is more boisterous and outspoken.

It will be up to the House GOP leader to pick Hoekstra's successor, as the Intelligence panel is also a select committee.

Shakeups are also possible in who controls the pursue strings for homeland security spending. It is widely thought that Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., is interested in chairing the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee if Democrats retain control of the upper chamber.

The panel's gavel was given to Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., over the summer. Lautenberg said he felt he should have it because of a promise made to him in 2002 by then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., in order to get him to run for the New Jersey seat. But Landrieu technically has seniority over Lautenberg.

"The understanding is that leadership expects there to be a reshuffling of appropriations subcommittee chairmen in the next Congress," a Democratic aide said. "It's widely accepted that that's the case."

In the House, Homeland Security Appropriations ranking member Hal Rogers, R-Ky., said he is interested in becoming the top Republican on the full Appropriations Committee. For now, though, he said his focus is on helping Republicans win midterm elections.

"Going forward, we face challenges in aviation and cybersecurity, in securing our border, and in addressing the very real threat of violent Islamic extremism bred in the United States. Now is not the time to put security on the backburner," he added.

Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman David Price, D-N.C., expects to remain the top Democrat on the panel.

"Looking at next year's appropriations process, our subcommittee will continue its vigorous oversight of the department in areas including efforts to remove criminal aliens, secure adequate funding for our first responders and emergency response capabilities, address new and evolving threats to the homeland such as cybersecurity, and ensure our homeland security professionals have the intelligence tools they need to keep our nation safe," Price said.

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and ranking member Susan Collins, R-Maine, also plan to continue as leaders of their panel.