Political Quotes

“I wish to join the chorus here. This is a big day, as Senator McConnell and Senator Schumer said, for our friend and colleague Pat Leahy. Pat and I have been working together a long time; this is our fourth decade. As we were told, he just cast his 16,000th vote in the U.S. Senate. I want to note that only three Senators have ever hit that mark--Senator Robert Byrd, Senator Danny Inouye, and Senator Strom Thurmond. And he is still going. Pat still has some time on his hands. This is an extraordinary achievement, as we all know, here in the Senate. As I said, Pat and I have served together for more than three decades. As Senators McConnell and Schumer said, he was first elected at the age of 34, making him one of the youngest Senators here. As we all know, last year we completed our work, working together, before the Fourth of July recess, on the Appropriations Committee. We are going to try to do it again this year, working together. I just think, if we work together, as we have before--Pat and I have given and taken from each other--it is good for the Senate. I congratulate Senator Leahy again on this rare and remarkable achievement--16,000 votes. It is a first. He currently ranks first in seniority in the Senate--first, folks, in seniority. He is our senior Senator. It has been nothing short of a privilege to serve alongside him. He is an excellent colleague, he has been a class act.…”