Today is the day that Senator Robert Byrd surpasses Strom Thurmond as the longest serving Senator. It would be opportune to evaluate Byrd’s tenure. Instead of looking, as many of his supporters do, at what he has done as the determinate for his success, let us use the results of his actions — the state of the state, if you will — as our benchmark.

In his years as Senator, Byrd has shoveled millions of dollars of pork to West Virginia and funded:

• Robert C. Byrd Drive, from Beckley to Sophia (Byrd’s hometown)
• Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center at Wheeling Jesuit University
• Robert C. Byrd Highway
• Robert C. Byrd Federal Correctional Institution
• Robert C. Byrd High School
• Robert C. Byrd Freeway
• Robert C. Byrd Center for Hospitality and Tourism
• Robert C. Byrd Science Center
• Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center of West Virginia
• Robert C. Byrd Cancer Research Center
• Robert C. Byrd Technology Center at Alderson-Broaddus College
• Robert C. Byrd Hardwood Technologies Center, near Princeton
• Robert C. Byrd Bridge between Huntington and Chesapeake, Ohio
• Robert C. Byrd addition to the lodge at Oglebay Park, Wheeling
• Robert C. Byrd Community Center, Pine Grove
• Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships
• Robert C. Byrd Expressway, U.S. 52 near Weirton
• Robert C. Byrd Institute in Charleston
• Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing
• Robert C. Byrd Visitor Center at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park
• Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse
• Robert C. Byrd Academic and Technology Center
• Robert C. Byrd United Technical Center
• Robert C. Byrd Federal Building (there are two)
• Robert C. Byrd Hilltop Office Complex
• Robert C. Byrd Library and Robert C. Byrd Learning Resource Center
• Robert C. Byrd Rural Health Center
• Robert C. Byrd Clinical Addition to the veteran’s hospital in Huntington
• Robert C. Byrd Industrial Park, Hardy County
• Robert C. Byrd Scholastic Recognition Award
• Robert C. Byrd Community Center in the naval station, Sugar Grove

[source]

After all the money, after having his name in more places in West Virginia than multi-millionaire car dealer Tom Peden has on his cars, after all the years, how is West Virginia faring?

If you ask Senator Byrd, things are great. “One man’s pork is another man’s job. Pork has been good investment in West Virginia. You can look around and see what I’ve done.” But if you look at the facts, we are in a wretched condition.

West Virginia is:

• 50th in per median income
• 19th highest in state tax collected
• 41st in gross state production (even though we are rich in coal)
• 35th in business friendliness

As I have detailed in another article, things in West Virginia have only taken a downward spiral for the last 42 years.

On its face, the millions of dollars seem like a good thing, but what is the result? Is this state noticeable better because Byrd is in D.C.? If you look at the statistics, the answer is no. If Byrd’s pork worked, today’s story would be different.

If you cannot see the destitute poverty in West Virginia, you need to take a road trip and compare your quality of living with those in our surrounding states.

I do not blame Byrd for the problems in our state. I fault the voters who elect Byrd, and those like him, whose pontifications exceed their results. Write what you will, but I refuse to honor a man whose actions are condemned by the facts.

He made the record book. Can he go now? Please?