Sen. Ted Kennedy marks 15,000 votes

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., a 45-year veteran of the chamber, cast his 15,000th vote earlier this month -- but no one noticed until several days later.

Kennedy reached the milestone -- which has previously been reached only by the late Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., who cast 16,348 votes; and Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., whose vote tally stands at 18,081 -- Aug. 3, when he voted "nay" on U.S. President George Bush's plan to expand wiretapping of alleged terrorists, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

Kennedy said he had "absolutely no idea" that his vote count had reached that high until "about three or four days ago" when he was informed of the accomplishment during his vacation.

Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid, D-Nev., opened Tuesday's session with a few words of tribute for the Massachusetts senator. He was joined in praising Kennedy by Byrd and other members of the chamber.