Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia yesterday resigned as chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. Byrd, at 90, is the longest serving member of the Senate in U.S. history, and has been on the committee for 50 years. There had been some talk that Byrd might have been replaced by the Democratic caucus had he not stepped down. From the Washington Post:

In a statement, Byrd cited the victory of President-elect Barack Obama (D-Ill.) as the moment that caused him to recognize the need for new leadership at the committee, which doles out more than $1 trillion a year in federal spending.

“A new day has dawned in Washington, and that is a good thing. For my part, I believe that it is time for a new day at the top of the Senate Appropriations Committee,” Byrd said.

The committee will begin a youth movement, with 84 year old Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii),taking over as chair. West Virginia has been blessed to have Byrd at Appropriations and the state takes a bit of a hit with this move.