Blizzard Can't Stop Historic Vote

(Dec. 21) – The 15 inches of snow that descended on the nation's capital this weekend managed to shut down most of the federal government, the city's Metro and many businesses. But not the U.S. Senate.

A combination of four-wheel-drive vehicles and sheer determination kept the Senate working through the weekend up to a 1 a.m. vote Monday on sweeping health care reform.

Senate Sergeant at Arms Terry Gainer said about 90 percent of the senators made it to work on foot or in their own cars. The rest, he collected throughout the Washington area.

Although Gainer's office doesn't usually operate a taxi service, he said they have four-wheel drive vehicles for emergencies and a staff that worked around the clock.

"We're getting a little tired," he said. But "we had all happy customers."

Even wheelchair-bound 92-year-old Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., made the trek in to provide the 60th vote necessary for Democrats to push ahead with health care reform.

Byrd's staff said he pointed toward the heavens when he cast his aye vote this morning.

Health bill opponent Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., raised the possibility – and hope – that Byrd wouldn't make it for the vote when he said Sunday: "What the American people ought to pray is that somebody can't make the vote tonight. That's what they ought to pray."

Byrd responded Monday: "The Bible says love thy neighbor as thyself. I would hope that we could debate the pressing issues in front of the American public on their own merits without appealing to the Almighty for obstruction, of which there seems to be no short supply in Washington."

Although the ailing Byrd doesn't make every vote, he generally arrives at the Capitol, with an aide pushing his wheelchair, for big votes like the one early Monday or another close vote early Saturday on defense spending. "This schedule has been grueling for everyone involved – not just Sen. Byrd but for all senators, especially those with young children who they are unable to spend time with during this most special time of the year," said Byrd spokesman Jesse Jacobs.

Jacobs said his boss "is feeling just fine and has been casting votes with vigor whether it is early in the morning or the wee hours of the night. He takes his role in this historic debate seriously, and is determined to carry out his oath to protect the Constitution and represent the best interests of West Virginians regardless of the weather or the hour."

Tired is the new normal in the Senate – which has been in session every day for 22 days, sprinting to finish health reform and other bills before a Christmas break.

As the flakes began falling Friday night and the debate went on, Senate offices scrambled to sort out who lived within walking distance and who had a truck to make their way through unplowed streets.

Kerry Feehery, chief of staff to new Sen. George LeMieux, R-Fla., said one of LeMieux's legislative aides who specializes in health care tried in vain for two hours Saturday to get a cab from Virginia into D.C.

"It's so ridiculous you have to have humor about the whole thing," she said.

Another LeMieux aide with an aptly named Toyota Tundra was able to ferry his colleagues home through the snowbound streets.

The office of the Architect of the Capitol had the unenviable task of clearing snow from the Capitol complex of 450 acres – which adds up to more than 400 football fields.

"The biggest challenge is with so much snow, where do you put it?" said spokeswoman Eva Malecki. "You can't just push it to the side because that's so much."

(The snow is being dumped in parks or the middle of the street, she said.)

Senate staffers came dressed for the weather, with snow boats peeking out from beneath their slacks. But even a record storm couldn't change the stringent dress code for the U.S. Senate floor. No jeans are allowed and coat and tie does not mean a parka.

Down Pennsylvania Avenue, the First Chicagoan said little about the storm. Earlier this year President Obama caused a flap when he needled Washingtonians for being weather wimps after a January dusting shut down his daughters' school. "Because of what? Some ice?" Obama asked. "We're going to have to apply some flinty Chicago toughness to this town."

Though staffers and lawmakers made it through the snowy weekend without too much grumbling, the 7 p.m. Christmas Eve final vote on health care is another matter. LeMieux, the father of three children ages 2, 4 and 6, so far is out of luck finding a flight to Florida after the vote so he can wake up Christmas morning with his family.

Even senators don't get to hitch a ride with Santa.