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Sixty Democrats … or 58?
July 08, 2009 4:01 PM
ABC News’ Jonathan Karl reports: Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., was sworn in this week with much fanfare as the 60th Democrat in the Senate. With 60 Senators, Democrats have something they haven't had since the 1970s: enough votes to block Republican filibusters.
Or not.
In reality, when it comes to actual votes, Democrats right now may only have 58 senators. That's because the two most senior Democrats are sidelined with illness -- and nobody can say when they will return.
Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., who is suffering from brain cancer, hasn't cast a vote since March 26. And 91-year-old Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., hasn't voted since May 13.
Senator Byrd's condition is something of a mystery. On May 15th, he hospitalized for what his Senate office called "a minor infection." His hospitalization, however, was not disclosed until May 18th. A couple weeks later, his Senate office released a statement saying he had contracted an additional staph infection and would need to remain in the hospital. Byrd was finally released on June 30.
So when will Byrd return to the Senate?
"When his doctors and family say he can return," says Jesse Jacobs, a Byrd spokesman. "That is all I know right now."
It seems as if none of Byrd's colleagues have any idea about his true condition or whether he will return to the Senate. Senator Majority Harry Reid's spokesman Jim Manley won't say when the last time Reid spoke to Byrd. His fellow West Virginia Democrat, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, recently told Roll Call that he hasn't talked to Byrd for weeks, adding, "nobody has."
Not quite nobody. Gov. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., says the governor spoke to Byrd via telephone yesterday. Matt Turner, Manchin's communications director, tells ABC News the conversation was about West Virginia "transportation projects."
Asked when he expects Byrd to return to the Senate, Turner told ABC News, "I have no idea."
Kennedy's office also cannot say when he will return to the Senate.
"He is balancing his treatment with his work on health care," said Kennedy press secretary Anthony Coley, who added that Kennedy has been in contact with his staff via telephone and that "he has good days and he has not-so-good days."
Senate Democrats hope that when it comes time for a final vote on health care reform, Kennedy's signature issue, that he will be able to make it to cast his vote. But nobody can say for sure if he'll be healthy enough to even do that.
July 8, 2009 in Congress, Democratic party | Permalink | Share | User Comments (13)
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Has anyone heard Senator Byrd speak in the last 5 years or so? It's no mystery! He's got alzheimer's disease.
Posted by: LongT | Jul 8, 2009 4:42:55 PM
Senator Byrd; the quintessential politician who perfected the art of getting earmarks that have nothing to do with the issue at hand to Senate bills to the floor for a vote.
Posted by: LongT | Jul 8, 2009 4:57:56 PM
If Byrd or Kennedy can't be there than they need to resign. It is as simple as that.
Both come from states who have Democratic governors and those governors can appoint new Democratic Senators.
Posted by: sarah | Jul 8, 2009 5:44:39 PM
In canada on a major vote, if there is absolutly no way for a sick member to appear for a vote, the other major party will tell one of their members to stay away so they can't vote out of respect for that member
Posted by: Chad | Jul 8, 2009 6:15:22 PM
Is this article just another part of the excuse machine that ABC is running for the Democrats? When you can''t blame the Republicans, blame the system. Remember, it was the Democrats themselves who ran Byrd and Kennedy knowing their physical condition, so they have to take responsibility for the consequences.
Posted by: MNResident | Jul 8, 2009 8:08:53 PM
Bryd is coming back and he is against Cap & Trade.
Posted by: bob | Jul 8, 2009 9:07:47 PM
Hey bob, if Byrd is against Cap & Trade, it's probably because no one can seem to get through to him that it has nothing to do with importing hats. The man has been out of it for years and the've banished him to the attic.
Posted by: LongT | Jul 8, 2009 9:49:54 PM
it's funny to hear righties bashing Sen. Byrd...... does the name Strom Thurmond mean anything to you guys? He couldn't even walk in to vote by hiself he was so out of it yet he was permitted to serve and he continually got reelected.....were you same people complaining then?
There really needs to be term limits set on these people serving in Washington. Thurmond, Byrd, and Kennedy are prime examples of reasons aside from the obvious power and money issues. They need to be removed in their states via the primary elections.
Posted by: dk | Jul 9, 2009 1:40:55 AM
dk, Didn't like Strom Thurman either. Nor Jesse Helms! But have you heard Mr. Byrd speak in the last 5-10 years? They don't put it on TV. I do agree with you that there must be some way to keep these politicians from continually "choking the chicken" and continue to amass money that enables them to get elected until they're carried out of the chamber on a stretcher. You got to admit, the imported hats joke was funny!
Posted by: LongT | Jul 9, 2009 8:22:36 AM
Robert Byrd a KKK member
Kennedy a murderer
And liberals say Palin's political career is over because she resigned...
Posted by: Mike | Jul 9, 2009 9:54:11 AM
Mike, Not quite. Byrd 'was' a KKK member. Kennedy is still just trying to live down that cowardly episode in July of 1969.
Posted by: LongT | Jul 9, 2009 10:18:39 AM
I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side... Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds. ”
— Robert C. Byrd, in a letter to Sen. Theodore Bilbo (D-MS), 1944.
Posted by: LongT | Jul 9, 2009 10:20:59 AM
And this is what the american people get from the Dems. One has brain cancer and we are to believe this isn't causing some trouble with his thought process,and one so old and sick that he need to just retire,And they are getting paid for not doing a thing just like Obama did when he was campaigning,No wonder this country is in sp much debt, i think they should give back the money they get to the states for a couple years and this would help our states out alot on programs they want to force on us.
Posted by: mindovermatter | Jul 9, 2009 11:03:57 AM
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