Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., who pledged a tight-fisted approach to federal spending, is being criticized as anything but by a living symbol of Virginia fiscal conservatism.
Former Sen. Harry F. Byrd Jr., I-Va., while describing Warner as "my friend," expressed dismay yesterday that the freshman senator backed on party-line votes spending and health-care bills that balloon the deficit by more than $1 trillion.
"When a Virginia Democrat is elected to the Congress -- Senate or House -- he or she must decide whether to vote the party line or vote the Virginia tradition of financial responsibility," said Byrd, who turned 95 on Dec. 20.
"Hundreds of thousands of Virginians -- independents and conservative Democrats who voted for Mr. Warner -- must be puzzled by his votes."
Byrd served in the U.S. Senate from 1965 to 1983 and was a member of the Finance Committee. A former Democrat twice elected as an independent, Byrd broke with the party, in part, because of its commitment to programs financed with deficit spending.
A Warner spokesman defended the votes, saying that a federal stimulus package stabilized the economy, while reform of the health system can help control the deficit.
"Senator Warner respects Senator Byrd and considers him a friend," said press secretary Kevin Hall, adding that Warner "would look forward to having a conversation with the former senator" on the disputed measures.
Hall also said that Warner has "charted an independent course in the Senate," joining with Republicans in successfully weaving cost controls into the health-care legislation and teaming with the GOP on efforts to rewrite financial regulations and force deficit reduction.
Byrd, who rarely endorses Democrats, supported Warner for the Senate in 2008. Four years earlier, Byrd endorsed a proposal by then-Gov. Warner -- enacted over Republican opposition -- to raise taxes $1.4 billion for education, law enforcement and social services.
"I feel obligated to say frankly that I was shocked by his votes," Byrd said.
Byrd said he was compelled to speak out on Warner's votes because the Democrat recently had been quoted as saying he would bring to Washington fiscal discipline grounded in his background as a successful businessman and investor.
Contact Jeff E. Schapiro at (804) 649-6814 or jschapiro@timesdispatch.com.
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