Iraq spending hearing dependent on Byrd’s health, sources say

All eyes will be on Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) Wednesday. The 90-year-old senator is expected to chair a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on an Iraq war spending bill and his appearance should send “an important signal” as to whether he can continue as chairman.

But that may not happen. At least two Democratic sources said Tuesday that Byrd’s health remained a question and that staffers had taken the extremely rare step of holding off scheduling a time for the hearing. A notice finally went out at the end of the day, announcing the hearing would take place at noon on Wednesday.

{mosads}Prior to the notice going out, Byrd’s spokesman, Jesse Jacobs, said that an official meeting time had not been scheduled and aides to ranking Republican Thad Cochran of Mississippi also said they were unaware of any specific meeting time for Wednesday. 

Such meetings are almost always scheduled several days in advance.

“It might not happen,” said one source prior to the notice going out. “There’s nothing concrete or firm.”

The exception in Byrd’s case is significant, another source said, noting that by not scheduling a time, it would have drawn less attention should Byrd have needed to withdraw.

The source said one possibility would be for Byrd to attend the meeting’s opening, read a brief statement, and depart.

Regardless, both sources say the hearing would be “pivotal” if Byrd indeed attends. The first source said that how he handles himself could “answer a lot of skeptics’ questions.”

The second source said: “Everybody believes he should remain in there as long as he can and as long as he’s able and tomorrow should be a signal.”

Byrd has been hospitalized twice since the beginning of the year. Last week, in a private meeting behind closed doors that touched on other subjects, 15 Democratic senators discussed whether he could continue to lead the committee.

“It is a very important hearing,” said Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). “Sen. Byrd has announced that it will be held on Wednesday, and I will be there.”

Whether Byrd can or cannot attend, Durbin emphasized that Democrats will help Byrd with the heavy lifting as appropriations season starts.

"Let me tell you, we'll all be there to help — all the subcommittee chairs and other members of the committee,” Durbin said. “We want this done and we want it done professionally, and we're going to help the senator in any way that he wants."

Durbin said the topic of Byrd’s ability to handle the job “wasn't even mentioned” at a regular leadership meeting of top Democrats Tuesday morning.

Republicans continue to take a hands-off approach to this issue. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky flatly refused to comment on Byrd Tuesday morning, and Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas said the GOP is not involved at all.

“It really is an issue the Democrats must be responsible for. They pick the chairmen of the committees,” she said. “We will deal with whatever the scenario is.”

Manu Raju contributed to this story.