Out with Old… and in with the Almost as Old
In spite of the vitriol aimed at McCain by high-profile Democrats (see Brad Pitts rant), the current majority party has decided to replace 91-year old Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W. Va.). The Senate Appropriations Committee chairmanship — one of the most powerful positions in the upper chamber – will be handed over to a man six years his junior, 84-year-old Sen. Daniel Inouye (D. Hawaii) This was reported in ”The Hill”.
Regardless of age, and more importantly for this blog, it is relevant that Inouye is in the top third of liberals in the Senate (National Journal Rating of 71.7), and his voting record includes:
- Voted YES on continuing federal funds for declared “sanctuary cities”. (Mar 2008)
- Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security. (May 2006)
- Voted NO on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. (Mar 2003)
- Voted YES on granting the District of Columbia a seat in Congress. (Sep 2007)
- Voted NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence. (Mar 2004)
- Voted YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees. (Sep 2006)
- Voted with Democratic Party 96.9% of 293 votes. (Sep 2007)
- Voted NO on confirming Samuel Alito as Supreme Court Justice. (Jan 2006)
- Voted NO on confirming John Roberts for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. (Sep 2005)
In terms of earmarks – don’t expect any change. Inouye will most likely pick-up right where Byrd leaves off. In 2005, Inouye, as the No. 2 Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, helped bring home more than $432 million – or $339 for each Hawaiian, the second-highest amount that year (behind Ted Stevens R-Alaska who lost his reelection bid). Ranking third at $262 per resident was West Virginia, home to the longtime top Democrat on the Senate panel and its current chairman, Robert Byrd. This past session the earmark table reads:
- Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK: 238.5 million
- Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS): $226.6 million
- Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV): $224.9 million
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Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI): $222.2 million
Source: Taxpayers for Common Sense
The more things change…..
