“You consider all the possibilities. And thank God none of you need to worry today. He’s doing great, ”said Durbin on Wednesday about Leahy. He acknowledged that the health, well-being and simple care of its members is about to be a daily headache: “You can bet it is. It is not just who is well, but who is present. “
Leahy, in a harsh voice, insisted that “of course” he will serve the rest of his term in a state controlled by a Republican governor who had already promised to fill a Senate seat with another member of the Democratic Caucus. Leahy did not rule out running again in 2022 for a ninth term as well and said “the latest research shows that I am winning easily”.
But even his brief hospitalization is a reminder of how tenuous everything is for Schumer and his 49 members. Long-term absence, unexpected health problem amid a global pandemic or a sudden retirement can hurt your majority at any time. And in a Senate with members in their 70s and 80s, it is always a possibility that a member’s health may affect the balance of power.
“I’m glad he came back. But it is also a reminder that, in an equally divided Senate, things can change quickly, ”said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). He said the vacancies could be filled, but a Democrat who was absent for several days could shift the balance of power back to Republicans.
“If someone was just deactivated but didn’t resign, that would have that potential,” added Cornyn.
The ex-Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Whose health had worsened, retired before serving their full mandates in recent years. Prior to that, Senator Frank Lautenberg (DN.J.), 89, and Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), 88, died in office in 2013 and 2012, respectively. Isakson’s retirement eventually led to a Democratic withdrawal, while Lautenberg’s death briefly gave Republicans his seat until Senator Cory Booker (DN.J.) won a special election.
Leahy said he has experienced muscle spasms before, but when they did not leave, he sought medical attention from Capitol doctor Brian Monahan. Monahan said cautiously that “there is so much going on, we are not taking any chances and I went to the hospital on the way home,” Leahy recalled.
Leahy’s office immediately reported the incident to the media in a press release Tuesday night. Despite his good humor, Leahy himself did not seem very excited to talk about his health, and after a few questions, an aide referred him to his Capitol office.
“I had some muscle spasms. And normally I would have said ‘to hell with this, to hell with this’, but they didn’t stop, ”said Leahy. “I never feel comfortable talking about health issues.”
Leahy is one of the most integral parts of the battered new majority of Senate Democrats in a tied Senate. He is soon due to take over the presidency of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is third in line for presidential succession and is also scheduled to oversee what could be a grueling impeachment trial.
Although he has been in the Senate for eight terms, Durbin said Leahy did not miss a step. In addition, there are four senators older than Leahy: Democrat Dianne Feinstein of California and Republicans Chuck Grassley of Iowa are 87 years old. Richard Shelby, from Alabama, and Jim Inhofe, from Oklahoma, are 86 years old. After Leahy, his Vermont colleague Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) Is next at the age of 79.
Doubts also arise about the ability of some elderly senators to fulfill their obligations. Feinstein, the oldest member of the Senate, stepped down as chairman of the Judiciary Committee in September, after progressives criticized his handling of Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation at the Supreme Court.
The coronavirus threat is another problem that has cluttered the Senate calendar, forcing Republican Party leader Mitch McConnell to cut a few days off last year after some of its members tested positive. Ultimately, however, he moved on after these diagnoses to confirm Barrett just before the election.
Each state has its own vacancy laws – and in Vermont any vacancy would be filled within six months by a special election. When Sanders was being considered for a seat in the Biden Cabinet, Republican Party governor Phil Scott said he would probably appoint a short-term replacement for the caucus with Schumer.
“Sen. Sanders met with the Democrats, “said Scott last year, adding that he would consider” a type of more left-wing independent who would obviously agree with the Democrats. “
Forgetting all of that, Leahy said he feels well enough to think about another candidacy, although he said he would not think about it until next winter. Known for taking pictures of Capitol dwellers and showing a dry sense of humor, Leahy feigned surprise when asked about the need to decide whether to follow a ninth term: “I better start checking this out.”
“You all know that, I never made up my mind until November or December of the previous year and I’m not going to do it now. Usually, when we start skiing and walking in the snow, we talk about it, ”he said.