æt ðə tˈaɪm, dˈɛməkɹˌæts hˈɛld ɐ nuːmˈɛɹɪkəl mədʒˈɔːɹᵻɾi ɪnðə sˈɛnət, bˌʌt ðɪ ˌaɪdˌiːsˈiːɹᵻpˈʌblɪkən kˌoʊəlˈɪʃən pɹɪvˈɛntᵻd dˈɛməkɹˌæts fɹʌm hˈoʊldɪŋ pˈaʊɚ, wˌaɪl ɐlˈaʊɪŋ ævˈɛlə ænd ˈʌðɚɹ ˌaɪdˌiːsˈiː mˈɛmbɚz tə ɡˈeɪn kəmˈɪɾi tʃˈɛɹʃɪps.
At the time, Democrats held a numerical majority in the Senate, but the IDC-Republican coalition prevented Democrats from holding power, while allowing Avella and other IDC members to gain committee chairships.