William Pryor: “I didn't intend to say anything about our friend, Ken Salazar today, but in listening to his remarks and knowing the…”

“I didn't intend to say anything about our friend, Ken Salazar today, but in listening to his remarks and knowing the contribution he has made around here in 4 short years, I couldn't resist. I first met Senator Salazar before he was a Senator; in fact, as we were getting sworn in as attorneys general together, probably in December of 1998, if I remember correctly. We both had been elected to our offices of attorney general in November of 1998, and we went to a National Association of Attorneys General meeting. We immediately bonded. It was very clear and very evident to everyone there that he had the right stuff to be a great attorney general. It turned out he was a great attorney general for the State of Colorado. I encouraged him to come to the Senate when Senator Campbell announced his retirement, and I think it was probably the best thing I have done since I have been in the Senate was to try to get Ken Salazar to come here. You know, when I think back about our Founding Fathers and how they designed the Senate and how I think they envisioned the Senate should work, they had in mind a person such as Ken Salazar to be in this body.”