Leahy 3rd in Line to Presidency

The death of Daniel Inouye of Hawaii yesterday has Democrats shuffling committee posts and such, but one change in particular carries some import with the Constitution. Patrick Leahy of Vermont got sworn in as president pro tempore of the Senate, which puts him third in line to the presidency behind Joe Biden and John Boehner, reports the Hill. Inouye's death makes Leahy, who took office in 1975, the longest-serving senator in the chamber, notes Politico. For the record, Hillary Clinton is next in line behind Leahy. (More Patrick Leahy stories.)