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Monday, June 28, 2010

First thoughts: Byrd passes away

Sen. Robert Byrd -- the longest-serving member of Congress -- passes away at the age of 92… His death could complicate the Democrats' math in the Senate… Kagan's SCOTUS hearing begins today at 12:30 pm ET… Previewing the GOP line of attack against her… Was the past week a turnaround for the White House, or a mirage of one (Friday's job numbers will be key in answering that question)?… Breaking down Obama's answers at yesterday's press conference (on the deficit/debt, Afghanistan, and Kagan)… And Giannoulias gets subpoenaed in Blago's corruption trial.

*** Byrd passes away: In the middle of the night, West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd (D) -- the longest serving member of Congress (from 1953-2010) -- passed away. He was 92. And much like Ted Kennedy's death nearly a year ago, Byrd's passing complicates the math for Democrats in the Senate, at least temporarily. Democrats now have a 58-41 majority in the chamber, so two votes shy of the 60 needed to break a filibuster. That could make passing the financial reform legislation -- which seemed more than likely this week, with President Obama hoping to sign it into law before July 4 -- a bit more difficult than first thought. It also might deny Elena Kagan an additional vote for her confirmation to the Supreme Court. Democratic West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin will have the ability to fill Byrd's seat, but it is unclear whether that replacement can serve out the remainder of Byrd's term (which is up in 2013), Politico writes. However, a Manchin adviser tells First Read that he doubts there will be a special election in November.

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