CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
Nov. 7, 2008 – 4:26 p.m.
Byrd’s Decision Sets Off Other Senate Gavel Changes
By Martha Angle, CQ Staff
Three other Senate committees will likely have new chairmen in the 111th Congress as a result of Robert C. Byrd ’s decision to relinquish the gavel of the Appropriations Committee.
Daniel K. Inouye , D-Hawaii, next in line by seniority, is expected to succeed Byrd on Appropriations. But that will open up the chairmanship Inouye currently occupies at the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
John D. Rockefeller IV , D-W.Va., is expected to take over at Commerce, although he declined to discuss his plans ahead of the Nov. 4 elections and Byrd’s announcement Friday. He and Byrd have served together since 1985, and Rockefeller always has been deferential to his senior colleague, the longest-serving U.S. senator in history.
Byrd was first elected in 1958, and he has spent his entire career as an appropriator, funneling billions of dollars to West Virginia. Rockefeller, 71, who just won election to his fifth term, has held less power in the Senate, and has never quite matched Byrd as a force back home. But neither man has had any difficulty winning re-election. Rockefeller captured 64 percent of the vote Nov. 4, even as Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona bested Democrat Barack Obama with 56 percent of the vote in West Virginia.
Byrd’s 64 percent of the vote in 2006, when he won a historic ninth term, was his lowest vote total since his first election to the Senate in 1958. (He served three terms in the House before that.)
Intelligence, Rules
If Rockefeller takes the Commerce gavel as expected, Dianne Feinstein , D-Calif., would take over at Senate Intelligence.
That would open up the chairmanship of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, where Charles E. Schumer of New York is the most senior Democrat who does not already chair a committee.
A Senate staffer familiar with the talks regarding the chairmanship shuffle, said of the Intelligence chairmanship, “Reid has offered it to her, and she wants it.” The source was referring to Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nev.
Feinstein, in a statement Friday, praised Byrd’s service and said, “As Senator Byrd so eloquently stated in his resignation from the chairmanship of Appropriations, this is a moment of great change in our nation’s history. If Senator Byrd’s resignation means that I will chair the Intelligence Committee, I would welcome the responsibility, and I am prepared to address the great challenges facing our nation.
“I believe that strong oversight of the intelligence community is critical to ensuring our national security, and to restoring America’s reputation in the world.”
Feinstein, 75, re-elected in 2006 to a third term, is one of California’s most popular and enduring political figures. Calm, deliberative and composed, she works to craft bipartisan solutions to problems and to avoid unnecessary battles.
Although she was mayor of San Francisco for more than a decade, she is by no means the stereotypical “San Francisco liberal.” Indeed, she often goes her own way, especially on the Judiciary Committee.
Byrd’s Decision Sets Off Other Senate Gavel Changes
On the Intelligence Committee, Feinstein and Rockefeller are almost always on the same page. Both have fought hard the past two years to bring the CIA under the same constraints as the military in interrogation practices, and both supported the final version of legislation enacted this year (PL 110-261) updating the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (PL 95-511).
Reid has indicated the Senate may revisit elements of that FISA update next year when it takes up expiring provisions of the latest version of the 2001 counter-terrorism law known as the Patriot Act. Intelligence and Judiciary share jurisdiction over that law, and Feinstein — unlike Rockefeller — serves on both committees.
Commerce Shift
Inouye and Rockefeller’s leadership styles are sure to differ, in part because no other committee in the Senate is run like the Inouye-led Commerce panel.
The Hawaii Democrat has long considered himself a “co-chairman” with his longtime friend and colleague Ted Stevens of Alaska, who was forced to step aside as ranking Republican this year after he was indicted on seven felony charges for failing to disclose gifts on his annual Senate financial disclosure forms. Stevens was convicted Oct. 27, and his fate in the Senate is uncertain at this point. His Nov. 4 re-election bid remains too close to call, and whatever happens, he will not reclaim his ranking position.
Inouye and Stevens ran the panel in such unison that when they switched positions after Democrats took control of Congress at the beginning of the 110th, it was as if there had been no change at all.
The two always tried to sort out their differences behind the scenes, negotiating deals between themselves and with other members before the committee voted publicly. The panel is known for holding 30-minute markups that result in one vote on an enormous bloc of bills that includes multiple amendments, all worked out in advance.
That could change under Rockefeller, who will be working with ranking Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas. But they are nonetheless accustomed to working together; Rockefeller in the current Congress has chaired the Aviation Subcommittee, while Hutchison is its top Republican.
Each has been vigilant in looking out for aviation interests in their states, though those interests are significantly larger for Texas (home to American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, for example) than for West Virginia. Still, Sino Swearingen, which makes small business jets, has a huge assembly facility in West Virginia, and Rockefeller watches over it like a hawk.
Rules Committee
The Rules Committee is dominated by senior members, including the top leaders of both parties. Schumer, No. 5 in committee seniority during the 110th Congress, is the highest-ranking Democrat who does not already chair a major committee.
Schumer has just wrapped up two straight wildly successful stints as chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the campaign arm of the majority party.
He would be unlikely to continue in that role if he takes the Rules chairmanship, since the committee has jurisdiction over campaign finance and election laws.
Byrd’s Decision Sets Off Other Senate Gavel Changes
— Tim Starks, Adrianne Kroepsch and Kathryn A. Wolfe contributed to this story.
Comments
Awh, that's too bad. Not to worry tho, those stump jumpers still have Mr. Rockerfeller. Looks like West by God Virginny will still get well taken care of. Just a diff name.
Inouye, Rockefeller, Feinstein, Schumer--honorable, competent senators all. I will be especially happy to see Feinstein as Intelligence chair. The only problem is age: I wish that Inouye would also step aside because of age. All in all, though, the nation will be in good hands, in terms of this new lineup of Senate committee chairs.
Change brings new and wonderful things. Thank you Sen. Byrd for your service to this country! Go America!
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