Mike Levin: “as this session of Congress ends, Senator Slade Gorton of Washington will leave the Senate. Senator Gorton has long been…”

“as this session of Congress ends, Senator Slade Gorton of Washington will leave the Senate. Senator Gorton has long been a leader among the Republicans and a thoughful voice in the Senate. Senator Gorton, a hard-worker, has served not only on the Senate Approriations Committee, where he chairs the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, but on the Budget Committee, the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the Indian Affairs Committee. He has carried an impressive workload. In addition, Slade Gorton, a former Attorney General in the State of Washington, earned a reputation as a tough proponent of fighting violent crime, particularly international terrorism. While proud of his conservative credentials, Slade Gorton was often willing to reach across party lines to work with Democrats on issues like consumer affairs and an increase in the minimum wage . I admired Slade Gorton's work along with Senator Joe Lieberman to fashion a sensible, balanced and expeditious way to consider the impeachment resolution sent to the Senate by the House of Representatives in 1998. While the plan was ultimately not adopted by the Senate, the careful and judicious effort to put such a plan forward reflected Slade's commitment to the dignity of the United States Senate.…”