Jeffords gives official notice; Republicans try to regroup

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A letter from Sen. Jim Jeffords to Vice President Dick Cheney reaffirms his pledge to remain a Republican until Congress approves a compromise tax cut plan and sends it to President Bush for his signature.

That compromise isn't coming easily to House and Senate negotiators, who are attempting Friday to ford the great distance between each chamber's version of tax relief legislation.

Some Senate aides said Friday they expected to work into the weekend on the tax compromise.

Jeffords' letter, dated Thursday, says, "My change in affiliation is to become effective at the close of business on either the first day of the session following the upcoming Memorial Day recess, or the close of business on the date of transmittal (of the tax bill), whichever occurs later."

VIDEO CNN's Jonathan Karl says Democrats are pleased and Republicans critical of U.S. Sen Jim Jeffords, (R) Vermont, leaving the GOP (May 24) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     MESSAGE BOARD Congressional divide

Jeffords, at present R-Vermont, made clear in his letter he is hoping for a quick compromise on the tax measure: "I hope it will assist the Senate if the recess is available to the leaders to discuss and decide the numerous transition issues the Senate will face."

The letter was sent by Jeffords to Cheney in his capacity as president of the Senate. Jeffords announced Thursday that he was leaving the Republican Party to become an independent.

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans began the task of regrouping Friday -- after Jeffords made his intentions known -- as they face a new political landscape that makes them the minority party in the chamber for the first time in six years.

"A lot of people are very, kind of shell-shocked at the change. This is a major change, and it has significant ramifications for a lot of individuals," said the No. 2 Senate Republican, Don Nickles of Oklahoma.

Moderate and mainstream Republicans aired their grievances during a two-hour caucus Thursday, blaming the GOP leadership for not listening to Jeffords and the rest of them or taking their positions seriously.

"Just because we have different views, that doesn't mean that we lack principles," said Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine.

Moderate Republicans once again raised the issue of having one of their own at in the leadership, comprised of senators from the conservative wing of the party.

"We need to ensure that our voice is heard in the process because obviously we do have different views and we can't always accept fait d' accompli positions when they clearly don't reflect the view of our constituents," Snowe said.

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania, said the Republicans have done nothing to get more in touch with what Americans want, especially in key states where Republicans lost seats in November.

"We really have to face up to the fact that we lost some key seats and there really hasn't been an evaluation of that since the election. This was a very loud wake-up call and I think the caucus was awakened," said Specter.

GOP split

Other senators said while they were disappointed, there was little they could do if Jeffords simply did not believe in the same things most Republicans espouse.

But others saw it as a lesson to look beyond a single political battle.

"I'm disappointed but I watched (his) speech, and I think he's doing it because of a matter of principle. And as disappointed as I am I got to say I can understand we get so caught up in the day-to-day politics of things and struggle to serve politics ,we forget sometimes people take stands like this," said Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tennessee.

There was immediate buzz around the halls of the capitol about whether current Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, or any of his leadership colleagues would be challenged.

One Republican said a challenge was unlikely to come from the left, not necessarily because there was not a will, but "it won't happen because plain and simple there are not the votes."

Others speculated that Lott could be challenged from the right of the party from some who thought he gave too much to Jeffords to no avail.

"We thought Trent went far, or further then he should have to accommodate Jeffords and mainstreamers. His problem is with the conservatives who dominate the caucus, not the moderates," said one conservative Republican senator.

CNN's John King and Dana Bash contributed to this report.