Friday, January 9, 2009

Biden steps down Thursday from the senate

Finally, a date. Biden is on his last congressional junket before assuming the Vice-Presidency.

Vice President-elect and senior Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden will step down from the Senate at 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, according to a letter to the Senate read into the record by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) today.

"Mr. President, what a sad but happy day it is to have that letter read before the world. Joe Biden, from the day I came to the Senate, was the most gracious, helpful person one could image," Reid said, after announcing Biden's formal resignation. "And for Barack Obama, having chosen him, speaks volumes about Barack Obama. So we will miss Senator Biden and his many, many years in the Senate, but we look forward to his working arm in arm with Barack Obama for the next eight years."

Biden is traveling in South Asia, along with South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) and others, on what will be his last congressional delegation trip before assuming the vice presidency.

Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner (D) is slated to name former Biden chief of staff Ted Kaufman to replace Biden in the Senate.

Source

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