In Washington today...

As everyone within range of a television or newspaper knows, the Pope conducted a Mass at the new Washington National's baseball park and many lawmakers, including Se. Susan Collins, a Republican, and Rep. Michael Michaud, a Democrat, were there. The Congressional trade papers are filled with stories about Senator Robert Byrd, D-W. Va., the 90-year-old chairman of the Appropriations Committee, who is in poor health. Byrd, the longest serving senator ever, held his first hearing in weeks yesterday, trying to silence critics and end the scrutiny about whether he is up to the job. Later today, Collins and Senators Evan Bayh, D-Ind., and Ben Nelson, D-Nebr., will say that the Iraqis ought to pay for more reconstruction and security costs. Finally, Michaud and several Democrats and an Ohio Republican visited Iraq last weekend. We'll get some color from his trip later this afternoon. And ... after breaking her wrist earlier this winter, Sen. Olympia Snowe, a Republican, finally had her cast removed. She now carries around a squeezable ball to strengthen the muscles in her forearm.