FILE - In this july 17, 2008 file photo, Sen. Robert Byrd waits of a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Congress returns for its midsummer session Monday with a Senate supermajority not super enough for President Barack Obama's top priorities to pass without Republican support. AP Photo logo AP Photo 5 months ago

FILE - In this july 17, 2008 file photo, Sen. Robert Byrd waits of a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Congress returns for its midsummer session Monday with a Senate supermajority not super enough for President Barack Obama's top priorities to pass without Republican support.

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  1. Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., heads to the Senate floor for a vote on Capitol Hill in Washington, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009.
  2. Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., heads to the Senate floor for a vote on Capitol Hill in Washington, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009.
  3. In this image from video, Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., speaks on the Senate floor Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at the Capitol in Washington. Wednesday marked the day when Byrd became the longest-serving member of Congress.
  4. US President Barack Obama speaks during an event celebrating the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Washington, DC, on October 14, 2009. Dedicated to improving civic education and educating about the role and importance of the US Senate and named after the late Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, the Institute will be located on the campus of the University of Massachusetts.
  5. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) puts his arm around Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as they speak about their meeting between Congressional leadership and President Barack Obama on Afghanistan and Pakistan at the White House in Washington, October 6, 2009.
  6. WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 01: Ranking member U.S. Senate Finance Committee member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) listens during a hearing on Capitol Hill October 1, 2009 in Washington, DC. The committee continued to vote on amendments to healthcare reform legislation.
  7. WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 01: Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) speaks during a hearing before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee on Capitol Hill October 1, 2009 in Washington, DC. The committee continued to vote on amendments to healthcare reform legislation.
  8. WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 01: U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) (2nd R) talks to Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV) (L) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) during a break in a hearing on Capitol Hill October 1, 2009 in Washington, DC. The committee continued to vote on amendments to healthcare reform legislation.
  9. WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 01: Ranking U.S. Senate Finance Committee member Chuck Grassley (R-IA) (C) speaks as (L-R) Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV), Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) listen during a hearing on Capitol Hill October 1, 2009 in Washington, DC. The committee continued to vote on amendments to healthcare reform legislation.
  10. Indonesian activists wear masks featuring US President Barrack Obama (L), Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (2nd L), President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso(2nd R) and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd during a protest against biodiversity offset programs, in Jakarta on November 18, 2009. Scores of environment activists held a protest against the program of biodiversity offset as they believed that biodiversity offsets are conservation activities intended to compensate for the residual, unavoidable harm to biodiversity caused by development projects, and is not the real solution and will ruin ecological dignity of developing countries.
  11. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: In this photo illustration, a copy of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' sits on end on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  12. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Gary Haynes (R) and Matt Cross (L) open boxes of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' as other books sit on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  13. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Matt Cross (R) puts copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  14. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Gary Haynes (R) and Matt Cross (L) put copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  15. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Gary Haynes (R) and Matt Cross (L) put copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. Wolverhampton Wanderers' Ronald Zubar (L) handles the ball to concede a penalty during their English Premier League soccer match against Manchester United at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England, December 15, 2009.
  2. Brazil's Senate Government leader Senator Romero Juca (L) talks with Senator Arthur Vigilio during a voting session at the National Congress in Brasilia, December 15, 2009, to decide whether or not to incorporate Venezuela into the Mercosur trade bloc.
  3. A woman attends a demonstration to protest the deportation of illegal Afghan migrants, at Lesquin Airport, near Lille, December 15, 2009. France and Britain plan to deport 10 illegal Afghan migrants in a joint flight late on Tuesday, part of a crackdown that has met with an outcry from human rights groups. The placard reads, "No to the flights of shame".
  4. Brazil's Senate Government leader Senator Romero Juca (R) and Senate President Jose Sarney attend a voting session at the National Congress in Brasilia, December 15, 2009, to decide whether or not to incorporate Venezuela into the Mercosur trade bloc.
  5. Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic, left, celebrates with teammate Gabriel Obertan after scoring against Wolverhampton Wanderers during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Tuesday Dec. 15, 2009. 20 7864 9121 or EMAIL info@football-dataco.com FOR DETAILS.
  6. Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic, top, reacts after scoring past Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Tuesday Dec. 15, 2009. 20 7864 9121 or EMAIL info@football-dataco.com FOR DETAILS.
  7. Manchester United's Patrice Evra, bottom, fights for the ball against Wolverhampton Wanderers' Kevin Foley during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Tuesday Dec. 15, 2009. 20 7864 9121 or EMAIL info@football-dataco.com FOR DETAILS.
  8. The sign leading to the Covenant Apostolic Church, is shown in Springfield Township, Ohio Tuesday Dec. 15, 2009. Police confirmed they are investigating allegations workers at the church daycare gave children a dietary supplement to help them sleep.
  9. Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, left, reacts alongside fellow team member Patrice Evra, right, after scoring a penalty against Wolverhampton Wanderers during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009. 20 7864 9121 or EMAIL info@football-dataco.com FOR DETAILS.
  10. The Covenant Apostolic Church, is shown in Springfield Township, Ohio Tuesday Dec. 15, 2009. Police confirmed they are investigating allegations workers at the church daycare gave children a dietary supplement to help them sleep.
  11. NEW YORK - DECEMBER 15: TV Personality Simon Van Kempen attends the unveiling of PETA 'Fur? I'd Rather Go Naked' billboard in Times Square on December 15, 2009 in New York City.
  12. NEW YORK - DECEMBER 15: Real Housewife Bethenny Frankel unveils her PETA 'Fur? I'd Rather Go Naked' billboard in Times Square on December 15, 2009 in New York City.
  13. NEW YORK - DECEMBER 15: Real Housewife Bethenny Frankel unveils her PETA 'Fur? I'd Rather Go Naked' billboard in Times Square on December 15, 2009 in New York City.
  14. NEW YORK - DECEMBER 15: Real Housewife Bethenny Frankel unveils her PETA 'Fur? I'd Rather Go Naked' billboard in Times Square on December 15, 2009 in New York City.
  15. WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner (L) speaks as Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (R) listens during an event to announce a partnership to promote financial education among the nation�s youth December 15, 2009 at the Department of the Treasury in Washington, DC. The Treasury and Education Department are teaming up to bring financial education to classrooms across the country.
  16. WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner (C) speaks as Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (R), and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority CEO Richard Ketchum (L) listen during an event to announce a partnership to promote financial education among the nation�s youth December 15, 2009 at the Department of the Treasury in Washington, DC. The Treasury and Education Department are teaming up to bring financial education to classrooms across the country.