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Johnson Returns to Senate

September 05, 2007 11:58 AM

Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., returned to his Capitol Hill office for the first time since last year when nearly dying of a stroke-like episode that caused his brain to hemorrhage.

Johnson wheeled zippily in an automated wheelchair into the atrium at the Hart Senate office building and was greeted by cheers and applause from staffers, a throng of reporters, flashing bulbs, and TV cameras.

Johnson is expected to attend a weekly lunch of Democratic Senators Wednesday and speak on the Senate floor. While his language is now affected as a result of last year's episode, it is obvious that his words are carefully chosen.

Asked Wednesday morning if he missed Washington during his convalescence, Johson said, "not as much as South Dakota."

While Johnson has been working at home for several months and is now back at the office, his complete return to duties is evolving.

Johnson, for instance, is the erstwhile chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee, which has been busy of late with moral clouds surrounding three senators.  Ethical clouds surround Idaho Republican Larry Craig, who may or may not resign at the end of this month of inappropriate conduct in a Minneapolis airport men's room, Republican Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana, who earlier this month admitted to calling a DC call-girl service while a Congressman, and Alaska Republican Sen. Ted Stevens, whose home was raided by authorities in July and may have benefited from some questionable home repairs.

Johnson will ease back into his role as chairman, according to his spokesperson, Julianne Fisher. She likened Johnson jumping back into the committee now to switching a prosecutor in the midst of a case, adding he will take over completely from interim chairwoman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., when a suitable transition point presents itself.

But Wednesday was a day for Johnson to celebrate his miraculous recovery from emergency brain surgery.  He was greeted at his office door by the South Dakota delegation - Sen. John Thune (who Johnson defeated by about 500 votes in 2002) and South Dakota's lone Congresswoman,  Democrat Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin.

The preparations for Johnson's return have been underway for some time. His desk was raised four inches to accommodate his wheelchair and some hallways in his office were widened. He claimed a new desk near the front of the Senate chamber, for easier accessibility, and a ramp was added to the podium in the recording studio where Senators often give press conferences.

Craig is able to walk, but a spokeswoman said he will often conserve his energy, pointing out that Senators can log in several miles per day walking between their offices and the Capitol building.

September 5, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (3)

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Posted by: born_7-4 | Sep 5, 2007 12:36:51 PM

Posted by: Holly | Sep 5, 2007 12:41:51 PM

Posted by: jerry kincaid | Sep 12, 2007 4:41:56 PM

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