Byrd's passing opens up key appropriations posts

The death of Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) leaves open the chairmanship of the powerful Senate panel that oversees homeland security spending.

Byrd, who passed away Monday, had the gavel of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee for Homeland Security, which oversees annual funding for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration, among other Department of Homeland Security agencies.

The vacancy comes as appropriators in the House move forward with a nearly $44 billion Homeland Security spending bill for 2011. That proposal, which was reported out of a House subcommittee last week, would increase Homeland Security spending by $1.1 billion over 2010 levels.

It's unclear who will take over the Senate subcommittee gavel, as the four Democrats with the most seniority on the panel already hold other appropriations chairmanships. The most senior member of the subcommittee without a chairmanship is Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.).

Byrd's vacancy also leaves an open seat on the full Senate Appropriations Committee, a spot often highly coveted by senators seeking to send federal dollars back home.