Political Quotes

“Madam President, once in a while you are lucky enough to meet someone who is down to Earth but uncompromising in their idealism. I met someone just like that in the year 2007, and I hired her for my staff. It was a great decision. For the better part of 6 years, Sarah Neimeyer has been a senior member of my staff, and this week she left my office for a new adventure which she started today, working with the new Secretary at the Department of the Interior. I am sorry to lose her, but I wish her well. Sarah comes by her idealism honestly. She grew up in a family of progressives in rural Minnesota. Her dad practiced law and her mom raised honey bees and grew her own vegetables. From her parents Sarah inherited progressive ideals, practical Midwestern values and a deep love of the land. During college, she spent her summers leading canoe trips through the Boundary Waters Wilderness in northern Minnesota and Ontario, Canada. Her first boss in the Senate was a dear friend and one of my personal heroes, Paul Wellstone. Sarah worked for Paul for 10 years. After he passed away, she left Capitol Hill and worked as an advocate for land conservation and wilderness preservation. Illinois has benefited from Sarah's passion, her practicality and her incredibly hard work. Lake Michigan is one of Illinois' most beloved treasures. As a member of my staff, Sarah has fought many battles to protect the Lake from threats from toxic dumping to invasive Asian carp.…”