Sen. Byrd in Serious Condition

UPDATE:  Senator Robert Byrd died at 3am, 6-28-10.  More on this news in future posts.

The oldest member of the U.S. Senate, Robert Byrd, has been in the hospital for a week and is now reported in serious condition:

Sen. Robert Byrd, who holds the record as the longest-serving member of Congress, is seriously ill in a Washington-area hospital, his office said Sunday.

The 92-year-old West Virginia Democrat has been in the hospital since late last week, his office said in a statement.

At first Byrd was admitted to the hospital late last week, suffering from what was believed to be heat exhaustion and severe dehydration as a result of the extreme temperatures, the statement said. He was expected to remain in the hospital not more than a few days.

However, upon further examination by his doctors, other conditions have developed, which have resulted in his condition being described as "serious."

A lot of people in the political punditry business are wondering why it took them a week to release the information that he was in the hospital. Seems like that would have been bigger news, especially in his home state.

And here's where things really get interesting, because with many big votes coming up in which Democrats will need him to try and stop GOP filibusters, one must wonder what would happen should he not be able to return:

Byrd's absence from the Senate in the coming days also could complicate financial reform efforts.

Because of defections and without Byrd, Democrats would have only 56 of the 60 votes needed to close debate and vote on the bill, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.

State law dictates how any U.S. Senate vacancy would be handled. If Byrd were to leave the Senate by July 3, a special election would have to be held. If there were a vacancy after, Manchin would appoint a successor. Byrd's term runs until 2013.

I hate to be crass, but politics runs through everything these days and I think there are a lot of Democrats who will be sweating out the next few days. A special election in this political environment could well turn that seat over to a Republican. However, if the Senator remains in office past July 3rd Democrat Gov. Joe Manchin would be able to appoint a successor should Byrd's leave office through death or retirement.  In that event the Democrats would retain the seat through 2013.

I certainly don't wish Sen. Byrd ill.  He's the longest serving Senator in U.S. history and has, as evidenced by the fact that most of the state is named after him, brought home the bacon for West Virginia.  His wife of nearly 69 years died in 2006 and I'm sure between the failing health and loss of his wife the last few years have been difficult for him.