Jim Jeffords, Influential Senator on Education Issues, Dies

The former U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords, the moderate Republican best known for his 2001 switch to become an independent (which swung control of the Senate to Democrats), died Monday. Jeffords focused on education and job training issues during much of his career in the House and Senate, often clashing with his party's positions on key issues. In the Senate, he served as chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee before handing the leadership of the panel over to Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts after switching parties. (This item has been updated to correct an error on the party switch.)