[OldFriend]

I really want to know if Byrd is going to be elected to President pro tem of the Senate......and will he be wearing a new sheet to his swearing in.

[mwl1]

Byrd cannot be pro tempore, it always goes to the senior member of the majority party. It will be Ted Stevens of Alaska.

[BaBaStooey]

the new President pro-tempore should be a Republican. When Jeffords switched, Strom Thurmond was no longer President pro-tem and Byrd became President pro-tem.

So, who is the longest-serving Republican in the Senate? They will likely be President pro-tem.