Tim Johnson won’t be considered for Banking Committee Chair

I have written in an earlier post that Tim Johnson should not have run for reelection. There is a very odd story by John Bresnahan in The Politico that confirms my argument.

It's odd because of what it doesn't say. The central focus is the decision Democrats have apparently made to ease Senator Robert Byrd out as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Byrd, the longest serving member in the Senate's history, is 90. His colleagues apparently do not think he can do his job anymore. Although Byrd is apparently not going to go quietly, there are plans to make him "Chairman Emeritus." Here is the odd paragraph:

Although Sen. Edward M. Kennedy vowed at the Democratic National Convention that he'd be back in the Senate in January, Democrats are bracing for the possibility that the Massachusetts Democrat, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in the spring, may not be able to resume his duties as chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, or HELP, Committee.

Senate insiders suggest Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, currently chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, may move over to take the gavel from Kennedy. That would leave Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island in line to take over the Banking Committee.

That's odd because Jack Reed isn't next in line for Senate Banking Committee chair, Tim Johnson is. So why would he not be the choice for Chairman? Johnson certainly is a Democratic Senator in good standing (unlike, say, Joe Lieberman).

The obvious possibility is that Johnson is not healthy enough to serve in that capacity. But you'd think Bresnahan would mention that fact, since it is obviously germane to the article. But of course Johnson is standing for election, and that might have an effect on the race. PP at South Dakota War College finds this at The Hill.

If Dodd does give up the Banking Committee, the responsibility is likely to fall to Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) instead of the next-most senior Democrat, Tim Johnson of South Dakota, who suffered a stroke in December 2006 and returned to the Senate in September 2007.

My guess is that Bresnahan had to promise not to mention the Tim Johnson angle, but being an honest journalist, gave it to us without mentioning it.

We now have at least four items of the list of things that Senator Johnson cannot do:

1. Debate his opponent in the campaign.
2. Sit for a half-hour interview.
3. Debate an issue on the floor of the Senate.
4. Serve as Chair of an important Senate Committee.

Johnson is great guy. He is not healthy enough for this office.