(2007-01-18) — Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-NB, today introduced a bill with several of his Democrat colleagues that would cap the number of Republican Senators at current levels and begin negotiations with Democrats for a phased GOP withdrawal from the Senate.

The measure comes as the Senate prepares to debate a Hagel-sponsored resolution opposing President George Bush’s move to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq.

“Just as sending more U.S. troops isn’t the solution to defeating terrorists in Iraq,” said Sen. Hagel, “more Republican senators won’t accomplish the party’s legislative goals here. Each additional GOP senator simply antagonizes the majority party and makes the Senate a worse quagmire than it already is.”

New York Democrat Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton co-sponsored the so-called “cap and yank” measure.

“We admire Chuck Hagel,” said Sen. Clinton, “because when he reaches across the aisle, it never seems like a stretch.”