Is Byrd Out as Appropriations Chair?
By SusanUnPC on December 18, 2007 at 2:16 PM in Current Affairs, Soldiers/Veterans
Via the Seattle Times / A.P. wire, just in — this could be great news for veterans funding because Sen. Murray fights constantly for veterans. (Murray’s father was a disabled veteran and she worked as a teen volunteer in veterans’ facilities.)
Murray denies plan to replace Byrd as Appropriations chair
By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Sen. Patty Murray is denying a published report that she and other Democrats are looking to replace West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd as chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. …
BELOW, some rich history from the Politico‘s story, including the precedent-setting ouster of “old bull” Strom Thurmond from a chairmanship:
The Politico newspaper reported Tuesday that under one scenario being considered, the 90-year-old Byrd would be named “chairman emeritus,” and Murray, D-Wash., would become “acting chairwoman” as soon as next month.
The Washington, D.C.-based newspaper said some Democrats believe Byrd is no longer physically up to the job. … READ ALL.
From Politico‘s story, history, including “old bull” Strom Thurmond’s ouster from a top committee chairmanship:
[T]here is broad discontent among committee members over the way Byrd has run the panel this year and the resulting problems in completing work on the fiscal 2008 spending bills, leading some members to privately push for Byrd’s replacement as chairman.
His physical condition has been slowly deteriorating for years, and he cannot walk now without the assistance of aides.
Byrd has difficultly running committee hearings, and he relies heavily on staffers for guidance.
Still, he can deliver one of his legendary floor speeches on the sanctity of the Constitution and the importance of Congress in the operation of the U.S. government, even if he often repeats himself over and again.
No Democratic senators or leadership aides would speak publicly about the situation, preferring to comment only anonymously.
A senior Democratic aide said replacing Byrd “has been discussed for the last couple of weeks,” although Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is not in favor of such a move. …
[...]
A Senate Democrat who serves on the Appropriations Committee complained that the panel “has had no chairman this year.” And another Democrat on the panel said Byrd “is no longer up to the job. It’s sad, but it’s true.”
A third appropriations member said that both Byrd and the larger Democratic leadership are at fault for an appropriations “endgame” that has resulted in a series of spending and policy victories for President Bush and the Republicans.
“Things are not flowing from the top of the pyramid down to the rank and file,” the senator said, meaning that neither Reid nor Byrd has provided the Appropriations Committee with the firm hand that members feel it needs.
It’s been done before, to “old bull” Strom Thurmond:
At the end of 1998, the late Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) was ousted as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee in favor of Sen. John Warner (R-Va.). Warner and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) had originally tried to take the Armed Services Committee away from Thurmond in 1995, after Republicans won back control of the Senate the previous November.
But then-Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) refused to support such a move at the time, even though Thurmond was 93 and no longer capable of running such a high-profile panel.
Similar tensions are seen as at play in the current controversy with Byrd.
Democratic senators said Reid is sensitive to the concerns of “Old Bulls” in replacing Byrd, with those older members fearing leadership could do the same to them down the road if Byrd is forced out.
Yet Byrd’s frailty and inability to engage personally in the battle with the White House over the spending bills has hurt Senate Democrats.
And he has been unable to act as a counterweight to Rep. Dave Obey (D-Wis.), the sometimes volatile chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, often missing key leadership meetings on appropriations strategy. … READ ALL.
by Ronald Scott
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