Editing Robert Byrd (section)

=== George H. W. Bush era ===
In early 1990, Byrd proposed an amendment granting special aid to coal miners who would lose their jobs in the event that Congress passed clean air legislation. Byrd was initially confident in the number of votes he needed to secure its passage being made available but this was prevented by a vote from Democrat [[Joe Biden]] who said the measure's passage would mean an assured veto by President Bush. Speaking to reporters after its defeat, Byrd stated his content with the results: "I made the supreme effort. I did everything I could and, therefore, I don't feel badly about it".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/30/us/senate-rejects-plan-on-aid-to-miners.html|title=Senate Rejects Plan on Aid to Miners|date=March 30, 1990|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=September 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525204355/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/30/us/senate-rejects-plan-on-aid-to-miners.html|archive-date=May 25, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-30-mn-193-story.html|title=Senate Kills Obstacle to Clean Air Bill Passage : Congress: Byrd's costly plan to aid coal miners is defeated on 50–49 vote after fierce White House lobbying. It would have brought a Bush veto|first=Michael|last=Ross|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=March 30, 1990}}</ref> The Senate passed clean air legislation within weeks of the vote on Byrd's amendment with the intent of reduction in [[acid rain]], [[Smog|urban smog]] and [[Air pollution in the United States|toxic chemicals in the air]] and meeting the request by President Bush for a measure that was less costly than the initial plan while still performing the same tasks of combating clean air issues. Byrd was one of eleven senators to vote against the bill and said he "cannot vote for legislation that can bring economic ruin to communities throughout the [[Appalachian Mountains|Appalachian region]] and the [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/04/us/senators-approve-clean-air-measure-by-a-vote-of-89-11.html|title=Senators Approve Clean Air Measure by a Vote of 89–11|newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 4, 1990|access-date=September 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826110448/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/04/us/senators-approve-clean-air-measure-by-a-vote-of-89-11.html|archive-date=August 26, 2018|url-status=live|last1=Shabecoff |first1=Philip }}</ref>

In August 1990, after the Senate passed its first major [[Campaign finance reform in the United States|campaign finance reform bill]] since the Watergate era that would prevent [[political action committee]]s from federal campaigns, lend public money into congressional campaigns and bestow candidates vouchers for [[Campaign advertising|television advertising]], Byrd stated that he believed the bill would "end the money chase".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/02/us/senate-votes-to-curb-donations-from-outside-campaign-groups.html|title=Senate Votes to Curb Donations From Outside Campaign Groups|date=August 2, 1990|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=January 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105043610/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/02/us/senate-votes-to-curb-donations-from-outside-campaign-groups.html|archive-date=January 5, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Byrd authored an amendment to the [[National Endowment for the Arts]] that would bar the endowment from funding projects considered obscene such as depictions of [[sadomasochism]], [[Homoeroticism|homo-eroticism]], the [[sexual exploitation of children]], or individuals engaged in sex acts while also requiring grant recipients to sign a pledge swearing their compliance with the restrictions. The October 1990 measure approved in the Senate was a bipartisan measure loosening government restrictions on art project funding and leaving courts to judge what art could be considered obscene.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/10/24/Senate-votes-to-loosen-NEA-restrictions/2112656740800/|title=Senate votes to loosen NEA restrictions|date=October 24, 1990|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=September 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914132056/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/10/24/Senate-votes-to-loosen-NEA-restrictions/2112656740800/|archive-date=September 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

President Bush nominated [[Clarence Thomas]] for the Supreme Court. In October 1991, Byrd stated his support in the credibility of [[Anita Hill]]: "I believe what she said. I did not see on that face the knotted brow of satanic revenge. I did not see a face that was contorted with hate. I did not hear a voice that was tremulous with passion. I saw the face of a woman, one of 13 in a family of [[Black Southerners|Southern blacks]] who grew up on the farm and who belonged to the church". Byrd questioned how members of the Senate could be convinced that Thomas would serve as an objective judge when he could refuse to watch Hill's testimony against him.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/16/us/the-thomas-nomination-senators-who-switched-tell-of-political-torment.html|title=THE THOMAS NOMINATION; Senators Who Switched Tell of Political Torment|date=October 16, 1991|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=September 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207025038/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/16/us/the-thomas-nomination-senators-who-switched-tell-of-political-torment.html|archive-date=February 7, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 1992, the Senate turned down a Republican attempt sponsored by [[John McCain]] and [[Dan Coats]] to grant President Bush [[Line-item veto in the United States|line-item veto]] authority and thereby be authorized to kill projects that he was opposed to, Byrd delivering an address defending congressional power over spending for eight hours afterward. The speech had been written by Byrd two years prior and he had at this point steered $1.5 billion to his state.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/28/us/senate-rejects-a-line-item-veto.html|title=Senate Rejects a Line-Item Veto|date=February 28, 1992|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=September 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914203345/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/28/us/senate-rejects-a-line-item-veto.html|archive-date=September 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1992, there was an effort made to pass a [[Balanced budget amendment|constitutional amendment to ensure a balanced federal budget]]. Byrd called the amendment "a smokescreen that will allow lawmakers to claim action against the deficit while still postponing hard budgetary decision" and spoke to reporters on his feelings against the amendment being passed: "Once members are really informed as to the mischief this amendment could do, and the damage it could do to the country and to the Constitution. I just have faith that enough members will take a courageous stand against the amendment". The sponsor of the amendment, [[Paul Simon (politician)|Paul Simon]], admitted that Byrd's prediction was not off and that other senators speak "when the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee talks".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/03/us/byrd-predicts-senate-will-defeat-amendment-for-balanced-budget.html|title=Byrd Predicts Senate Will Defeat Amendment for Balanced Budget|date=June 3, 1992|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=September 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914203852/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/03/us/byrd-predicts-senate-will-defeat-amendment-for-balanced-budget.html|archive-date=September 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In a June 1992 debate, Byrd argued in favor of the United States withdrawing accepting [[Immigration to the United States|immigrants]] that did not speak English, the comment being a response to a plan from the Bush administration that would enable [[Post-Soviet states|former Soviet states]] to receive American assistance and allow immigrants from a variety of countries to receive [[Social programs in the United States|welfare benefits]]. Byrd soon afterward apologized for the comment and said they were due to his frustration over the federal government's inability to afford several essential services.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/27/us/remark-on-immigrants-brings-byrd-s-apology.html|title=Remark on Immigrants Brings Byrd's Apology|date=June 27, 1992|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=September 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914205330/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/27/us/remark-on-immigrants-brings-byrd-s-apology.html|archive-date=September 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>