Some of Washington's insider crowd this week was abuzz with concern about former Senator Jim Jeffords' health after his friend and seatmate, Senator Patrick Leahy, implied in a speech on the Senate floor that JMJ wasn't doing so well in retirement up on the farm in Shrewsbury.

The remarks Wednesday came as Leahy, arguing for inclusion of a $2 million provision taked on to the military spending supplemental bill to fund an education institute at the University of Vermont that bears Jeffords' name, chided Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma for seeking to have the money deleted from the bill.

Here's the key exerpts of what Leahy said.

"Along with the leadership of the Appropriations Committee and the Senate, on both sides of the aisle, I felt this would be a fitting way to honor Senator Jeffords' service to our country while there is still time. Clearly, Senator Coburn does not feel that way. Sadly, that is not going to happen today. I think it is a disgrace. "


"Senator Jeffords did not seek reelection last fall so he could spend more time with his family and to address ongoing health issues. I am sad to note that these health issues continue. "

"Were circumstances different, I would say that we could wait and find regular appropriations vehicles through which to fund this project. I, along with the leadership of the Appropriations Committee and the Senate, believe this would be a fitting way to honor Senator Jeffords' service to our country while there is still time."

By Thursday afternoon, I was getting calls from Washington media asking after Jeffords health. I'd heard nothing but decided to call Jim up just to make sure. "I feel fine," he told me and, if hearing his voice over the phone was any indication, he indeed sounded very much like his usual self.

Dave Carle, Leahy's press secretary, told me his boss never meant to suggest Jeffords health had somehow declined and that people were overreacting to the comments.

Still, the quotes are what they are.

Maybe Leahy was laying it on a little thick because he was so irritated with Coburn and knew that Coburn's amendment to kill the the money for the institute would eventually succeed.

-- Sam Hemingway