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The senator next in line to succeed Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) as chairman of the Appropriations Committee on Monday called talk of shuffling the top spot premature even as whispers continue around the Capitol.
Sen. Daniel Inouye (D) of Hawaii, who has seniority to replace Byrd atop the powerful panel should the 90-year-old West Virginian relinquish the job, said Byrd is being subjected to an unfair level of scrutiny not applied to past chairmen.
“I’ve been here for 45 years, and I’ve served under Appropriations chairmen who have been shot, who have been in the hospital, who have been on their deathbed. I’ve served under Strom Thurmond [R-S.C.]. And no one demanded that they step aside,” Inouye said.
“This is unusual. If someone has a problem, we all step in to help. Now all of a sudden they want to throw people out? That’s not the way to do it.”
Inouye’s mention of a shooting was a reference to Sen. John C. Stennis (D) of Mississippi, who was shot twice — nearly fatally — in a 1973 mugging near his Washington home.
As for his own interest in the coveted job, Inouye dismissed any speculation.
“I don’t want to take part in this kind of debate because it’s not the kind of talk we should be involved in.”
Yet talk continued Monday about Byrd, who has been hospitalized twice since the start of the year. One Democratic source said speculation may enter a “cooling-off” period, as some senators try to quash talk of a coup against Byrd. But another source said there is only a slim chance Byrd will be able to survive.
“I just don’t see how he hangs on,” said the source.
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) last week said Byrd would continue as chairman “until something else comes up.” Reid spokesman Jim Manley on Monday said Byrd told Reid in a recent conversation that he is getting “stronger by the day.”
Byrd sent the same message in a series of phone calls last week to certain senators, seeking to reassure them.
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