Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) underwent brain surgery yesterday after suffering what’s being described as “stroke-like symptoms.” He is in critical condition.
There was no formal announcement of the South Dakota senator’s condition, The Associated Press reported, but a person in the hospital’s media relations office, who declined to be identified, said the hospital was preparing to announce that Johnson’s condition was critical. […]
Johnson spokeswoman Julianne Fisher said the senator was in the Capitol on Wednesday morning conducting a conference call with South Dakota reporters when “his speech pattern slipped off.”
Fisher said the senator was able to walk back to his office in the Hart Senate Office Building, then began having problems with his right arm. He thought he was all right, she said, and went to his desk, but came out a few minutes later and “it was apparent he needed help.”
Staffers put him on a couch in the office and called the Capitol doctor, she said. He was taken to the hospital shortly afterward. His wife, in the office to have lunch with him, rode with him, Fisher said.
“It transpired very fast,” she said, adding the senator’s staff was shaken by the incident. But, she said of the hospital, “we keep reminding ourselves, this is where they take Dick Cheney.”
As for the political implications, there’s been ample discussion, here and elsewhere, about legal and political procedures. Without rehashing the discussion from yesterday afternoon, it’s worth noting that the consensus seems to be that there is no mechanism in place to replace Johnson if he recovers but is unable to fulfill his duties during his recuperation.
There is some precedent, the NYT noted, for extended absences from the Senate for health reasons. Sen. Robert Wagner (D-N.Y.), for example, missed nearly all Senate business for three years because of a heart ailment.
There’s some additional speculation about what happens if the Senate begins with a Democratic majority, but transitions to a 50-50 Senate.
In a 50-50 Senate, Vice President Cheney could break tie votes in the GOP’s favor. But a Senate that becomes evenly split after it is in session would not necessarily fall to Republicans, Senate historians said. Rules and precedents could leave a party in charge of the chamber even after its membership falls below that of the other party.
“It’s what happens in January that counts,” said Senate associate historian Donald A. Ritchie, referring to when party leaders hash out rules governing the chamber’s organization. […]
In order to adopt new rules organizing the Senate, the two parties must reach nearly unanimous agreement. Democrats in 2001 blocked the naming of committee chairmen and members, demanding concessions before agreeing to the rules. Among those concessions: Should the numerical advantage change, all committee assignments and chairmanships would be nullified, and a new organization would have to be submitted.
That’s what happened, not because of a death but because disgruntled moderate Republican Sen. James M. Jeffords (Vt.) decided to caucus with the Democrats, giving them a 51-49 edge and the powers of the majority. Senate Republican sources said yesterday that their party is likely to press for similar concessions when negotiating the operating rules for the next Congress. But even if Johnson were incapacitated, Democratic aides say, they would resist.
On a slightly more encouraging note for our often-toxic political atmosphere, you need not check far-right sites for scurrilous comments hoping for the worst — it appears everyone’s on their best behavior. As one conservative put it, “Well, look, I want control of the Senate as much as the next Republican, but not this way: best wishes for a speedy recovery to Senator Johnson. Sheer human decency should overrule partisanship on a story like this.”
Update (9:31am): The office of Senator Tim Johnson has released the following:
Admiral John Eisold, Attending Physician of the United States Capitol said, “Subsequent to his admission to George Washington University Hospital yesterday, Senator Tim Johnson was found to have had an intracerebral bleed caused by a congenital arteriovenous malformation. He underwent successful surgery to evacuate the blood and stabilize the malformation. The Senator is recovering without complication in the critical care unit at George Washington University Hospital. It is premature to determine whether further surgery will be required or to assess any long term prognosis.”
Barbara Johnson, wife of Senator Johnson, said, “The Johnson family is encouraged and optimistic. They are grateful for the prayers and good wishes of friends, supporters and South Dakotans. They are especially grateful for the work of the doctors and all medical personnel and GWU hospital.”