Published: November 18, 2009 12:19 am      

Sen. Byrd hits another record in distinguished political career

Sen. Robert C. Byrd is still setting records.

Most people certainly are aware that Byrd is already the longest serving senator in United States history. But today he reaches yet another milestone in his long and distinguished career. Today he becomes the longest serving member of Congress in history. He surpassed Carl Hayden when one combines his terms in the U. S. Senate as well as in the House of Representatives.

Hayden served in the House from 1912 to 1927 and then in the Senate from 1927 to 1969. That period covers 56 years and 319 days for the Democrat from Arizona.

Byrd served in the House of Representatives from 1953-59 and has been in the U.S. Senate ever since. During nearly half of that span he has served as the majority leader.

And would you believe the West Virginia senator will observe another birthday on Friday as he turns 92 years old?

Gov. Joe Manchin and state lawmakers have some celebrations planned in Charleston today at the state capitol, although Byrd probably will remain in Washington. He is still rather weak following an extended hospital visit or two.

He reappeared on the U.S. Senate floor back on Oct. 19 to manage a $44.1 billon homeland security spending bill. He said then that “there are some people in this country who have become complacent about the threat of another attack,” referring to the horrors of 9/11. “Don’t count me as one of them.” He has apparently made great strides since it appeared he might be near death in mid-summer.

Byrd stepped down as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee prior to his 91st birthday. But while he was in that post, West Virginia was the recipient of huge sums of money for roads, colleges and universities and economic development projects.

One of our favorite comments about the senator was that he might as well move the nation’s capitol to West Virginia since just about everything else has moved here.

As we have stated on previous occasions, West Virginians owe Sen. Byrd a big round of thanks for all he has done for the betterment of the Mountain State.