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WASHINGTON - West Virginia Sen. Robert C. Byrd reappeared on the Senate floor Tuesday with some of his old bluster back after a season of frailty, this time to manage a $44.1 billion homeland security spending bill.
"There are some people in this country who have become complacent about the threat of another attack," Byrd, chairman of the homeland security subpanel of the vaunted Appropriations Committee, said in a clear voice. "Don't count me as one of them."
Don't count him out, either.
Byrd, 91, is the longest-serving senator in history and has come back from debilitating illness before. Last year as chairman of the full Appropriations Committee, lobbyists and others spread rumors that he was too frail to continue to serve in that capacity. Byrd, who had weakened physically, stepped down from the chairmanship when he was ready - after the 2008 elections.
He retained his chairmanship of the subcommittee, however, which is what brought him to the floor Tuesday looking more alert and steady than he has at other points in the year. The matter at hand was a House-Senate spending agreement on security measures against naturalo disaster, terrorist attacks and other threats.
Bow Tie Boy, Vic Sprouse, Don Surber and all the other ne'er do wells that made shameful remarks about Byrd's health should all eat crow and bow their heads in shame. Of course sense they have no sense of decency, I don't expect they will.
BYRD CALLS ON MASSEY ENERGY TO
ACT RESPONSIBLY IN MARSH FORK
Washington, DC - Reacting to news reports, Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., today blasted Massey Energy officials for their refusal to provide assistance to efforts to replace the existing Marsh Fork Elementary School because of potential environmental dangers. The Raleigh County School is adjacent to a coal silo constructed by Massey, and sits at the foot of the company's pond that holds back hundreds of millions of gallons of toxic coal slurry. Massey is moving forward with plans to build a second coal storage silo on their site adjacent to the Marsh Fork Elementary School, further compounding the environmental hazards for the school children nearby.
"Such arrogance suggests a blatant disregard for the impact of their mining practices on our communities, residents and particularly our children. These are children's lives we are talking about," said Byrd.
"If Massey were not operating near Marsh Fork Elementary, we would not be debating what to do about moving these young students someplace safer. This is not the taxpayers' burden to remedy. This is Massey Energy's responsibility to address."
Byrd added that, "Let me be clear about one thing - this is not about the coal industry or their hard-working coal miners. This is about companies that blatantly disregard human life and safety because of greed. That is never acceptable."
"At a time when coal is under such close scrutiny, coal companies operating in West Virginia should be working together to put their best foot forward. For the sake of the entire coal industry, Massey Energy should strive to be a better and more responsible corporate citizen. And for the sake of the kids, they should address these serious environmental concerns at Marsh Fork Elementary immediately."
State Senator Mike Oliverio of Monongalia County has created a message board for "grateful citizens of West Virginia to express their appreciation and gratitude for Senator Robert C. Byrd."
Here's what I'd like to say:
Thank you, Sen. Byrd, for all you have done for West Virginia. While I don't agree with all your policy positions, I've never doubted your commitment to the people of this state or your commitment to the United States constitution.
Whereas so many others go to Washington, D.C. and return home to their state far wealthier, you've spent nearly a lifetime in Washington and made West Virginia, not yourself, wealthier.
And, oh, how I wish the rest of the Senate had had the wisdom to listen to your advice regarding the invasion of Iraq.
(Thank you State Sen. Oliverio for creating the website.)
Paul Nyden at the Charleston Gazette sees through the concern trolling of the Wall Street Journal:
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Some political commentaries, including a recent Wall Street Journal analysis, question how effective Sen. Robert C. Byrd can be after suffering recent health problems, especially in helping pass health-care reform legislation.
Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, told the Charleston Gazette, "As long as Byrd is able to be there, he has enormous influence because of his seniority and stature.
"Living in West Virginia, you know how much he has contributed to the state's economy. Byrd may not be at his peak, but he can deliver more than anybody who could be put in there instead."
Sabato mentioned Paul Kirk, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee chairman, who was just named to succeed Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass.
"Paul Kirk is a nice guy. But is he going to deliver anything? Or will the new senator elected [from Massachusetts] in January deliver anything? You can't replace seniority and institutional memory," Sabato said.
Ambulances and fire trucks were dispatched to the Northern Virginia home of Sen. Robert Byrd Tuesday morning.
A neighbor of the 91-year-old West Virginia Democrat said several ambulances were outside his residence in McLean, Va., and a Byrd spokesman said the senator suffered a fall in his home.
Update (by Clem G.): From an email:
Sen. Byrd apparently stood up too fast this morning in his home and fell down. To err on the side of caution his caregiver called an ambulance. He was taken to the hospital where he is currently being checked out. At this point in time he seems fine and there is no indication that he will be admitted.
Update #2 (by Clem G.): Official press release:
UPDATE ON SENATOR BYRD
Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., has been admitted to the hospital and is expected to remain there for a few days. Byrd was taken to the hospital this morning as a precautionary measure following a fall at his home which was likely caused by standing up too quickly. While having no broken bones or bruises, upon examination, doctors found an elevated white-blood cell count which can be an early sign of an infection. Therefore, his doctors have determined that Byrd should remain in the hospital for antibiotic treatment and observation. Senator Byrd is in good spirits and expressed his disappointment that he was unable to join all his Senate colleagues this afternoon for the biennial Senate photo.
Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), the only senator to have served longer than the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), mourned his friend Wednesday, saying his "heart and soul weeps."
Byrd said he hoped healthcare reform legislation in the Senate would be renamed in memoriam of Kennedy.
"I had hoped and prayed that this day would never come," Byrd said in a statement. "My heart and soul weeps at the lost of my best friend in the Senate, my beloved friend, Ted Kennedy."
Byrd's wistful statement focused on the work accomplished with Kennedy during decades together in the Senate, and called on the healthcare bill before Congress to be renamed in honor of Kennedy.
"In his honor and as a tribute to his commitment to his ideals, let us stop the shouting and name calling and have a civilized debate on health care reform which I hope, when legislation has been signed into law, will bear his name for his commitment to insuring the health of every American," Byrd said.
CSPAN has the debate on now (Senate Continues Debate On Judge Sotomayor). On its website it has a tally of confirmed YEA or NAY votes. There are seven Democratic Senators who have not either voted in the Judiciary Committee, made a public statement, or been independently confirmed by telephone.
Begich AK
Byrd WV Casey PA
Conrad ND
Levin MI
Lincoln AR
Rockefeller WV
This is the list as of noon Wednesday. Debate is scheduled to continue until 9PM tonight. The vote will be before the Senate recesses at the end of the week, but after travel promotion and the Cash-for-Clunkers are resolved.
I wonder if anyone has asked our two Senators if they have formed an opinion on what will influence their vote.
While the vote to not buy more unnecessary F-22s was bipartisan, one of those who voted to buy more was Sen. Robert C. Byrd.
The F-22 program employs about 100 people in West Virginia and word is he also wanted to support Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), another strong supporter of the F-22 air superiority fighter.
I can understand the desire to keep the aeronautics industry strong and employed, but it certainly seems as if the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will provide us with air superiority for decades in a much more versatile craft. As a platform aircraft for the Air Force, Navy and Marines, the F-35 will be easier to maintain and service over the life of the aircraft.
Even though much is being made of Senator Byrd's return, the reality was he remained in control throughout his illness, providing the direction to his veteran staff, who are more than capable of handling the day-to-day constituent issues.
Washington, DC - Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., returned to the Senate today to vote on a key amendment to the FY 2010 Defense Department Authorization Bill. Byrd has been sidelined from the Senate since mid-May due to a hospitalization for a minor infection and a subsequent staph infection which he contracted while in the hospital. He has been receiving physical therapy at his home for the past few weeks.
Byrd returned to the Senate chambers today to vote against an amendment to delete funding for the U.S. Air Forces' F-22 jet fighter program. Byrd noted the importance of the number of jobs the continued production of the jet fighter program provides nationwide in a struggling economy, including in the state of West Virginia.
Byrd noted that it was "wonderful to be back in the august body where I have served for more than 50 years, and to see all my colleagues who have been so supportive of me during my recent hospitalization."
Byrd is expected to ease back into his duties as Senator. With major debate and votes upcoming on the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, health care and climate change legislation, Byrd wants to ensure he is in good health to be in the chamber to cast his vote on behalf of his fellow West Virginians.
Good news on health care reform. Pres. Obama is fully engaged this week and pushing hard for health care reform legislation that includes a public option.
President Obama, along with senior advisers David Axelrod and Nancy Ann DeParle, held a conference call with bloggers this afternoon to discuss healthcare reform and the need for grassroots and netroots pressure on Congress to keep the urgency of the issue alive.
President Obama strongly reiterated his basic principles for a reform bill:
* Cover all Americans
* Drive down costs over the long term for both the private and public sector
* Improve quality
* Strengthen prevention and wellness
* Enact real insurance reforms that end exclusions for preexisting conditions, etc.
* Relief to small businesses
* Create a robust public option
But the main message of the call was the urgency of getting this done sooner rather than later.
But if Democrats are going to get it all done before adjourning early next month, they're going to have to prevail upon conservative members in their own party--many of whom are trying to slow down the entire reform project--that time is of the essence. Just how successful their efforts will be remains to be seen, but for now, they seem to be trying to divide Congress into pro- and anti- reform camps, characterizing Republican calls to delay as political gambits meant to kill the legislation, and asking those on the fence to choose their allegiances.
The hope seems to be that, faced with the GOP's naked political considerations, conservative and vulnerable Democrats will resist the urge to aid and abet the White House's enemies on Capitol Hill and in the conservative movement, and support swift action.
Sen. Rockefeller is one of Pres. Obama's staunch allies in this effort.
I can't find any public statement from Sen. Byrd on the content of health care reform legislation--it would be a real shame if Sen. Byrd ended up canceling out Sen. Rockefeller's vote.
My prediction
Pres. Obama will be successful in getting cloture in the Senate followed by a simple majority for the bill. There will be some Democratic party votes for cloture but against the bill. (The political stakes will be so high that blocking this legislation will be practically the equivalent of leaving the Democratic caucus. Also, the threat of passage under budget reconciliation makes a filibuster effectively pointless/unlikely.)
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Jay Rockefeller and Robert C. Byrd today applauded President Obama's nomination of the Honorable Irene C. Berger for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
"Judge Berger is absolutely incredible. Her historic nomination makes me so very proud. She has served Kanawha County strongly and honorably as circuit judge, and I know she will do the same for all West Virginians. Her integrity, compassion and fairness are unmatched, and I am thrilled that President Obama has nominated her for this esteemed position," said Rockefeller.
"Judge Berger's outstanding contributions to her community and state are evidence that she will be a role model for jurists statewide," Byrd said. "Irene Berger has exhibited an impeccable dedication to fair and impartial justice for all, and it is the good fortune of all West Virginians to have her nominated for the federal bench."
Judge Berger Background
Judge Berger is a native of Berwind and has served for 15 years as circuit judge for the 13th Judicial Circuit of West Virginia. As Rockefeller and Byrd pointed out to President Obama in recommending her for this position, she has been a person of firsts throughout her life. She was among the first to integrate her local elementary school, the first in her family to attend college, and the first African American woman to serve as circuit court judge in West Virginia. Judge Berger also would be West Virginia's first African American federal judge.
GOVERNOR SPEAKS WITH SENATOR BYRD, MEETS WITH TOP AIDES DURING WASHINGTON VISIT
Contact: Matt Turner, 304-558-2000
WASHINGTON - Following up on a request from U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, Gov. Joe Manchin today met with the senator's top aides and briefed them on the state's financial condition and provided an update on state highway projects during a visit to the senator's office. Gov. Manchin also spoke by telephone with Sen. Byrd, who is recuperating from an illness at his home near Washington.
The governor traveled to Washington with State Transportation Secretary Paul Mattox and State Highway Engineer Marvin Murphy.
"Sen. Byrd asked for me to bring him and his staff up to speed on our highway needs and other pressing issues with which he can help," Manchin said. "He wanted to know where we ended the fiscal year, what concerns we have and the priorities we see for West Virginians - kind of a mid-year State of the State.
"I was very pleased to speak with Sen. Byrd and I'm happy to report that he is doing better and he's giving us direction and orders as he always does. The first thing he wanted to know was our status on finishing Corridor H."
In addition to the meeting with Sen. Byrd's staff, the governor was in Washington to take his oath of office as a member of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation Board of Trustees. The prestigious James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation was established by Congress in 1986 for the purpose of improving teaching about the United States Constitution in secondary schools. The Foundation is an independent agency of the Executive Branch of the federal government and its Board of Trustees is chaired U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy.
Vivian Stockman, an Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition project coordinator, said, "We're extremely grateful to Senator Byrd. It is awfully nice his staff will meet with people directly impacted by mountaintop removal.
"We hope this trip will help Byrd's office understand the huge hidden costs associated with mountaintop-removal coal mining from flooding to lost communities, from lost economic potential of the mountains to the huge costs of poisoned streams and drinking water."
Stockman said no one has yet done a comprehensive study about the human, health and economic costs associated with "this extreme form of coal mining."
On Wednesday, Stockman and her colleagues will take Byrd's staff members to "see a community that is being dismantled because of mountaintop removal and to other communities to see some flood damage."
"They will be meeting with people who have generations of ties with the coal industry, but who cannot tolerate mountaintop removal."
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