Sen. Robert Byrd to capture longevity record

If there was ever a case to be made for term limits, West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd is it. Nearly 57 years in Congress. That's about 50 years too many.

From POLITICO:

Byrd's stat sheet speaks for itself:

• Served 20,774 days — or 56 years and 10½ months — in Congress

• Attended 18,582 Senate roll call votes

• Elected to Senate nine times

• Served under 11 presidents

• Held five jobs in Democratic leadership

• At age 91, sits third in line to the presidency

Now frail, white-maned and bereft of his primary power base, Byrd, who turns 92 on Friday, is a walking testament to the mortality that is inevitably revealed as longevity records pile up. In recent years, he has lost his beloved wife, Erma Ora Byrd; his close friend Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts; and the chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee, a post he coveted since his earliest days in Congress but gave up under pressure earlier this year.

But in a well-staffed institution that still pays tremendous deference to seniority, the oft-hospitalized Byrd remains what he has always been: an economic driver for West Virginia.

"He's still bringing home the bacon," said former Rep. Ken Hechler, a fellow West Virginia Democrat who served in the House from 1959 through 1977. "I would say he’s West Virginia's No. 1 economic development officer."

Last year, Byrd nabbed 60 projects totaling $123 million by himself and nearly $30 million more in conjunction with other lawmakers, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense.

Sen. Robert Byrd to capture longevity record - Jonathan Allen - POLITICO.com