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Byrd: We Came Very Near the Precipice; 'I Hope We Can Avoid It in the Future;' Senator Pivotal in Gaining Supplemental $1.5 Billion Medical Funding for Veterans; Rahall, Vass Join Byrd in VA Hospital Visit
by Tony Rutherford
Huntington News Network Writer
Photos by Tony Rutherford and Chris Spencer
Huntington, WV (HNN) - Visiting Huntington's Veterans Administration Hospital to announce that $1.5 billion has been secured to supplement a shortfall at the Veterans Administration, Sen. Robert C. Byrd Sunday, July 3, 2005, called the threat to the filibuster in the U.S. Senate "the most dangerous threat I've ever seen since I've been in public office for 59 years."
Walking stridently with the aid of two canes, the 87-year-old senator explained that the 'nuclear' or 'constitutional' option as labeled by Republicans "is unconstitutional on its face. But there were seven Republicans and seven Democrats, including myself and John Warner of Virginia who wanted to wreck that so-called nuclear option. We came very near the precipice. I hope it we can avoid it in the future."
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He called upon future men and women elected to the Senate to not be "guided by political parties. I like my party. It's a great party, but the Constitution is much greater."
Briefly, injecting a history lesson, on the foundations of freedom of debate, Byrd, D-WV, told of Henry IV in 1407 declaring that "members of [the House of ] Commons could speak their minds." Later, William III and Mary could not be sworn in as English sovereigns until they swore allegiance to the Declaration of Light, the forerunning of a Dec. 6, 1689 English Bill of Rights which included the freedom of Speech in commons.
"We copied that from our English forebears in our Constitution and Bill of Rights, which I have by my heart almost every day." Byrd gently, yet firmly, reminded the "men and women who serve the [current] President of the United States need to read that Constitution again, and again, and again."
Byrd, who along with U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-WV, and Robert E. Vass Sr., Council Member of the West Virginia Division of Veterans' Affairs council, visited hospitalized vets, told reporters that the injured men and women "thanked the delegation and the people who care for them. I want to express my appreciation too for the services rendered by the medical staff at this center."
Rahall added, "They had high words of praise for the staff, the director, the doctors and the nurses here."
Rahall went on to explain that Byrd had been instrumental in adding more than half a billion dollars to the inadequate appropriation forced upon the House "because of Republican leadership and votes taken that forbid us to make parliamentary moves. The Administrator did not foresee it when he first took office. Now, he's admitting the mistakes and has come to Congress seeking supplemental funding."
Vass, from Huntington, called the Veterans Administration shortfall one which the American Legion, VFW, and DAV had warned Congressional and Administrative leaders for the last five years. "If there's a discrepancy, it's one they created. Had it not been for Sen. Byrd, there would be a lot of veterans not served by this hospital."
During prepared remarks, Byrd asked American's to "think about, pray about and thank the men and women who have served this country so well in all wars. Our hearts are with them, and we hope those who will become veterans will come home soon."
Prior to visiting at the VA Medical Center, Byrd and Rahall attended church services at Christ Temple on Johnstown Road.
"What a wonderful experience it was. That minister [Chuck Lawrence] is just something to behold. He has built a church so generous; it's one of a kind. The songs they sang and the scripture readings will stay with me a long time." However, the state's senior senator carefully qualified his statement so as not to derogate any church.
"I appreciate the churches in Washington, D.C. I've visited a good many in Northern Virginia. All churches have something good no matter what the faith. I need spiritual strength and spiritual guidance. I have a little better feeling when I'm in West Virginia visiting West Virginia churches. They're a little closer to my heart. I like to be with the home folk."
In fact, Byrd found a sobering fiscal relationship to the supplemental appropriation and Christ's birth: "$1.5 billion is $1.50 for every minute since Jesus Christ was born."
Although Sunday's activities echoed steams of appreciation and praise, no one in the press contingent went for the "will you run next year" juggler. However, the Senator with a sense of soft spookiness alluded to the answer when revealing he had his "sick" wife's permission to visit Huntington today. "She's a coal miner's daughter.
Washington's bright lights have never changed her. I've traveled all over West Virginia for 53 years… we've been to folk festivals, homecomings, family reunions, but bless her heart, she's always been there working with me, never trying to step out and make any political speeches. She's made one or two at my request when I couldn't appear. She's a West Virginian to the core. May God bless her and may God bless me to continue to live to see our 69th [wedding anniversary] and then our 70th and who knows how much further."
