Robert Byrd

Opinion Source Information:

Seattle Times

 

"Arlen Specter gives our side of the aisle not only a numerical boost, but also an intellectual shot in the arm." - Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.V.

 

Opinion Source Information:

Question: On the Amendment (Coburn Amdt. No. 1067 ) 

Vote Number: 188 Vote Date: May 12, 2009, 05:45 PM
Required For Majority: 3/5 Vote Result: Amendment Agreed to
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 1067 to S.Amdt. 1058 to H.R. 627 (Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2009)
Statement of Purpose: To protect innocent Americans from violent crime in national parks and refuges.

Byrd (D-WV), Yea

Opinion Source Information:

From democrats.senate.gov:

Dear Governor Blagojevich:

We write to insist that you step down as Governor of Illinois and under no circumstance make an appointment to fill the vacant Illinois Senate seat. In light of your arrest yesterday on alleged federal corruption charges related to that Senate seat, any appointment by you would raise serious questions.

It is within the authority of the Illinois legislature to remove your power to make this appointment by providing for a special election. But a decision by you to resign or to step aside under Article V of the Illinois Constitution would be the most expeditious way for a new Senator to be chosen and seated in a manner that would earn the confidence of the people of Illinois and all Americans. We consider it imperative that a new senator be seated as soon as possible so that Illinois is fully represented in the Senate as the important work of the 111th Congress moves forward.

Please understand that should you decide to ignore the request of the Senate Democratic Caucus and make an appointment we would be forced to exercise our Constitutional authority under Article I, Section 5, to determine whether such a person should be seated.

We do not prejudge the outcome of the criminal charges against you or question your constitutional right to contest those charges. But for the good of the Senate and our nation, we implore you to refrain from making an appointment to the Senate.

Sincerely,

Sen. Brown
Sen. Byrd
Sen. Cantwell
Sen. Cardin
Sen. Carper
Sen. Casey
Sen. Clinton
Sen. Conrad
Sen. Dodd
Sen. Dorgan

 

 

Opinion Source Information:

S. 2205: Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2007 (Vote on Cloture to Motion to Proceed) 
 

Senate Vote #394 --- Oct 24, 2007

Nay WV Byrd, Robert [D]

A vote against cloture was basically a vote to kill the bill.

Background:

A bill to authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain alien students who are long-term United States residents and who entered the United States as children, and for other purposes.

Opinion Source Information:

S. J. Res. 9: United States Policy in Iraq Resolution of 2007
A joint resolution to revise United States policy on Iraq.

- States that the president shall promptly transition the mission of U.S. forces in Iraq to commence phased redeployment from Iraq. (Sec. 2 (a))
- States that the redeployment from Iraq should begin no later than 120 days after the enactment of the resolution, and should have the goal of redeployment by March 31, 2008. (Sec 2 (b))
- States that forces should only be left in Iraq to (1) protect United States and coalition personnel and infrastructure, (2) train and equip Iraqi forces, and (3) conduct targeted counter-terrorism operations. (Sec. 2. (b)).

S. J. Res. 9: United States Policy in Iraq Resolution of 2007 (Vote On Passage)
Senate Vote #75 --- Mar 15, 2007

Aye WV Byrd, Robert [D]

Opinion Source Information:

He  voted for the Biden Amendment:

Question: On the Amendment (Biden Amdt. No. 2997 as Modified )

Vote Number: 348 Vote Date: September 26, 2007, 12:16 PM

Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 2997 to S.Amdt. 2011 to H.R. 1585 (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008)

Statement of Purpose: To express the sense of Congress on federalism in Iraq.

Yeas: 
Byrd (D-WV)

Background:

S Amdt 2997 to S Amdt 2011 to HR 1585: To express the sense of Congress on federalism in Iraq.

Highlights:

-Expresses the sense of the Congress that the U.S. should support a federal government in Iraq based on a limited central government by eliciting the international community’s support, further encouraging Iraq’s neighbors to not contribute to Iraq’s instability, and convening a conference where Iraqis may agree on a plan to organize and implement such a federal system.

Opinion Source Information:

He is listed as a co-sponsor:

S. 625: Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

A bill to protect the public health by providing the Food and Drug Administration with certain authority to regulate tobacco products.

Sen. Robert Byrd [D-WV]

Opinion Source Information:

S.155
Title: A bill to promote coal-to-liquid fuel activities.
Sponsor: Sen Bunning, Jim [KY] (introduced 1/4/2007) Cosponsors (13)
Related Bills: H.R.370, S.154
Latest Major Action: 1/4/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. COSPONSORS(13), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)

Sen Barrasso, John [WY] - 9/17/2007
Sen Bond, Christopher S. [MO] - 1/4/2007
Sen Byrd, Robert C. [WV] - 5/2/2007
Sen Craig, Larry E. [ID] - 1/4/2007
Sen Dorgan, Byron L. [ND] - 1/11/2007
Sen Enzi, Michael B. [WY] - 1/4/2007
Sen Landrieu, Mary L. [LA] - 1/4/2007
Sen Lugar, Richard G. [IN] - 1/4/2007
Sen Martinez, Mel [FL] - 1/4/2007
Sen Murkowski, Lisa [AK] - 1/4/2007
Sen Obama, Barack [IL] - 1/4/2007
Sen Pryor, Mark L. [AR] - 1/4/2007
Sen Thomas, Craig [WY] - 1/4/2007

Opinion Source Information:

H.R. 3996 was the proposal to provide tax relief against the rising AMT. The House voted to link the proposal, and to pay for it by, among other things, taxing hedge funds as regular income.

Subtitle B: Provisions Related to Certain Investment Partnerships - (Sec. 611) Allows the recharacterization of certain net income and loss from an investment services partnership interest for the performance of services as ordinary income or loss, unless such income relates to a partner's invested capital.

In the Senate, a similar linkage was proposed. On a cloture motion to proceed to the House version of the bill, it is safe to assume that senators who voted in favor of cloture were in favor of the change-of-tax status incorporated in that version of the bill.

Here's the senator's vote:

Senate Vote #414 (Dec 6, 2007)
On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 3996 ) 

Aye WV Byrd, Robert [D]

Opinion Source Information:

He voted against S. Amdt. 3017:

Question: On the Amendment (Kyl Amdt. No. 3017 as Modified ) 

Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 3017 to S.Amdt. 2011 to H.R. 1585 (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008) 

Statement of Purpose: To express the sense of the Senate regarding Iran. 

Byrd (D-WV), Nay

Opinion Source Information:

AP

Several Republicans spoke on the Senate floor during the opening hours of debate on Monday, suggesting Democrats were abandoning the troops. As he explained the bill, Mr. Byrd, the longest-serving member of the Senate, offered a full-throated defense.

“The bill before the Senate includes a provision that would give the war a new direction, and points the way out of the civil war in Iraq,” Mr. Byrd said. “There is no restriction on funding for the troops.”

Opinion Source Information:

On the cloture vote:

Democrat Robert Byrd of West Virginia voted ``yes'' on Wednesday's motion to move forward with an up-or-down vote on the amendment but said he opposed the measure itself.

Opinion Source Information:

The Washinton Times reported in May 2006:

The Senate yesterday easily approved an immigration bill that allows 10 million illegal aliens to become citizens, doubles the flow of legal immigration each year and will cost U.S. taxpayers an estimated $54 billion over the next 10 years.
***
 Four Democrats -- Sens. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, Byron L. Dorgan of North Dakota, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan -- joined 32 of the chamber's 55 Republicans, including several members of the GOP leadership, to vote against the bill. Three of the four Democrats who opposed the bill face voters in November.
    Opponents said that the Senate is ignoring clear public will and that the bill would have disastrous consequences for decades to come.

Opinion Source Information:

In a 2002 Senate vote, Byrd voted to affirm Roe v. Wade.

Opinion Source Information:

Byrd voted in favor of extending the assault weapons ban. Since the ban has lapsed, such a position represents more restrictive measures than currently exist.

Question: On the Amendment (Feinstein Amdt. No. 2637 )

Vote Number: 24 Vote Date: March 2, 2004, 11:38 AM

Statement of Purpose: To provide for a 10-year extension of the assault weapons ban.

Byrd (D-WV), Yea