Hey, Senators! What happened to January?

So you may have noticed, along with the rest of America, that the Senate Democratic Caucus voted yesterday to allow Joe Lieberman to retain his chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee.

I think we're all in agreement on the fact that the vote did take place yesterday, correct?

And that yesterday was November 18, 2008? Yes?

Here's why I ask:

Remember what Sherrod Brown told his constituents about this issue?

I do not expect any changes to committee assignments until the beginning of the next Congress in January of 2009.

And remember what Dianne Feinstein told her constituents about it?

I believe it is better to wait until the beginning of the new Congress to reevaluate Senator Lieberman's Committee Chairmanship.

Can anybody tell me why these two Senators (and probably several others) told their constituents that the decision wouldn't be made for another month and a half, when the whole world watched it happen yesterday?

Somebody owes their constituents an apology and a clarification. If you want to keep Lieberman in his chair, we can't stop you. But please, just say so honestly.