BREAKING NEWS: Majority Leader Schumer??!!

                                                      Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell

It's no April Fool's joke. In a surprise move by the Democratic Party, Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) called a quorum to replace Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) with Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) as Senate Majority Leader.  

Once informed of the decision, Senator Reid replied "Um..um...um...sometimes you have to take one fore the team."

Baucus added "we are thankful for Senator Reid's commitment to the party," and mentioned something to Senator Reid about needing to make the move in order to get financial legislation passed on the Senate floor tomorrow.

Senator Schumer seemed pleased with the decision and told The Claremont Beat he was "Very excited to work with Minority Leader Mcconnell" and that "Republicans have realized that the country has voted for change and I intend to push for an agenda in congruence with the president's agenda."

I caught up with Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY) after the switch and he commented, "Senator Schumer has consistently displayed a willingness to work with Republicans, he has demonstrated that he is a man of his word and he will honor agreements he makes with Republicans, which is a refreshing change for Democratic Leadership".

A unanimous consent agreement has been presented to the two professors monitoring the simulation, Professor Pitney of Claremont McKenna College (R-CMC) and Professor Ward of Pitzer College (Ⓐ -PZ), which would make Senator Bingaman (currently on Finance Committee) Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee and send Senator Boxer to be a member on the Finance Committee.

Professors Pitney and Ward could not think of a precedent in Simulation history for the event, and when asked of their opinions replied in unison, "You figure it out."

Since the publishing of this article, we have received word that the unanimous consent agreement was not approved by the two professors. Professor Jack Pitney explained, "the one thing we said was no switching committees".

Ashley Green contributed to this article.