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Lieberman will keep Homeland Security chair

Sen. Joe Lieberman will keep his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security Committee despite hard feelings over his support for GOP nominee John McCain during the presidential campaign.

The Connecticut independent will lose a minor panel post as punishment for criticizing Obama this fall.

Lieberman’s colleagues in the Democratic caucus voted 42-13 Tuesday on a resolution condemning statements made by Lieberman during the campaign but allowing him to keep the Homeland Security Committee gavel but lose a subcommittee chair on the Environment and Public Works panel.

Lieberman also will continue to chair the Senate Armed Services subcommittee on air and land forces, a position that gives him a say over Army and Marine hardware, tactical aviation programs for all of the services and large parts of the National Guard and reserve budgets.

Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he was very angered by Lieberman’s actions but that “we’re looking forward, we’re not looking back.”

“Is this a time when we walk out of here and say, ‘Boy, did we get even?’ ” he added.