By Alan K. Ota, CQ Staff

Judd Gregg of New Hampshire had no part in the deal cut by fellow Republicans Charles E. Grassley of Iowa and Jeff Sessions of Alabama to line up plum jobs for themselves on the Senate Budget and Judiciary committees in the next Congress.

But he might have a say in whether the plan holds together.

Gregg continues to be bombarded by senior Republicans eager for him to reverse his decision not to run for re-election in 2010. “It’s coming from different people, including some in the leadership. They’ve got nothing else to say. It’s like saying, ‘Good morning.’ They don’t want me to retire,” Gregg said.

Senate Republicans are hunting for ways to increase their 40-member caucus, especially now that Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania has switched to the Democratic Party.

For his part, Gregg said he has not been swayed but will continue to listen to the entreaties. “I’m settled in. I’m comfortable with where I am,” he said.

The Grassley-Sessions deal cleared the way for Sessions to succeed Specter as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee and allowed Grassley to stay in place as the ranking member on Finance for this Congress.

But in the next Congress, the handshake agreement would allow Grassley to use his bumping rights under GOP caucus rules to become the top Republican on Judiciary, a move that would leave Sessions to succeed Gregg as the top Republican on Budget.

Sessions is well aware that the efforts to persuade Gregg to run for re-election could upset that plan. Whatever the outcome, Sessions said he will keep his promise to Grassley not to contest his push to become the top Republican on Judiciary. “He’s more senior,” Sessions said of Grassley.

Of the Budget Committee lineup in the 112th Congress, Sessions said, “It’s all complicated. I don’t like to presume I know what’s going to happen in the future.” He allowed that Gregg, Grassley and Michael B. Enzi of Wyoming each have more seniority. Of the three, Grassley and Enzi, who is ranking member on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, insist they have no interest in being the ranking Republican on Budget, leaving the field open to Sessions, unless Gregg changes his mind.

Still, Sessions said he’s rooting for efforts to get Gregg to run for re-election. “Nothing would make me happier than if he decided to return. That’s for sure,” Sessions said.