Political Quotes

“I want to thank my colleague for yielding. I rise today to celebrate the lives of two extraordinary public servants, both considered from southern Illinois--one from deep southern Illinois--Senator Alan Dixon and Congressman Kenny Gray. Both passed within the last week or so, but our mourning has turned into remembrance and reverence for their undeniable commitment to all of us. Senator Alan Dixon--or as he was commonly known, Al the Pal, as we from Illinois knew him, and eventually everyone else in this institution and in Washington knew him as that also--was a larger-than- life personality, with a can-do spirit, if you will. He came to Washington to get things done, particularly for his beloved Illinois. From his beginnings in Belleville and St. Clair County to being State treasurer and secretary of State, he modernized the offices he served in to better serve the people of the State. Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980, he soon realized that Illinois lacked a cohesive message in Washington, D.C. With Senator Chuck Percy, he began a monthly Illinois get-together that continues to this day. It brings together Members of the House and the Senate, downstate, Chicago, Republican, Democrat, conservative, moderate, and liberal. We sit around, and we talk about the Illinois agenda and how we can work together to advance it. Our prayers and best wishes go out to his wife, Jody, and his family and friends.…”