I just got off the phone w/ Gov. Manchin's office (re: Byrd replacement).....

[CrownPrinceBandar]

The nice lady I talked to told me that state law may prohibit an interim replacement of Senator Byrd if there is to be a special election this fall. According to her, the legality of a 4-month interim appointee is in question and that the governor, the SOS and the state's attorney are currently hashing out the details of what can and cannot be done. So, we are possibly looking at a diminished DEM majority in the Senate until after the elections in November.

I would tell you to light up their phones and email, but I really don't know if it'll do any good (if you choose to, please be nice). I did, however, make sure to highlight not just the plight of the unemployed, but homeless veterans and suffering state services that have been hit by this cutoff of Federal contributions. She said they've received a bunch of correspondences regarding this and that Gov. Manchin understands, but that they are doing all they can to get things moving.

Contact page: http://www.wvgov.org/sec.aspx?id=36

PLEASE NOTE: This info is based upon a single phone call to an aide of the Governor. I cannot provide cites. YMMV.

[SoCalDem]

1. States need to clear up their rules. This stuff happens every time someone dies in office

no matter which party is in power. This is another reason why it's time to set up term limits. Having a senator who is 80+ is like having a ticking timebomb waiting to go off , setting off a replacement controversy.,. every time ........ unless there is a cut and dried way to do it.

I know that determined people like Byrd do not want to retire, but had he retired the last time out & supported a "hand-picked" replacement they might not be in the fix they are now:(

The same happened with Kennedy. Had he retired when he got his diagnosis, we would not have the centerfold.. Kennedy was vigorous enough at the beginning to assure a democratic transition, and he still could have participated in the health care stuff as an advisor.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

2. kick

wondering why this never made the latest page or shows up in my posts.