Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to thank a man who has been a good friend to me and a strong advocate for working people in our home State of Illinois, across America and beyond. Congressman Jerry Costello has represented the 12th Congressional District of Illinois in the House of Representatives for nearly a quarter century. We served together for 8 years in the House, from 1988 to 1996. Congressman Costello will be retiring at the end of this Congress. He has flown home nearly every weekend for 24 years. He and I have shared more flights between Washington and Illinois than either of us can count. I will miss his company on those flights, and all of us in the Illinois congressional delegation will miss his leadership and good counsel in our ranks. Jerry Costello and I were both born in East St. Louis, IL, which was a hard-scrabble, working class town even back then. Jerry's family lived in Holy Angels Parish and I was a St. Elizabeth Parish kid, but we were both taught by the Marianist brothers at Assumption High School, home of the Pioneers. Jerry's family moved to Belleville, IL, when Jerry was in high school and his dad was elected St. Clair County sheriff. In seventh grade, he met the love of his life, Georgia Cockrum. They married when they were just 18. Jerry put himself through college working as a court bailiff. He also worked as a deputy sheriff, probation officer and court administrator. In 1980 he was elected St.…”