Bob Dole: “It truly has been a privilege to serve in the Senate with my good friend Peter Fitzgerald. As many Illinois newspapers…”

“It truly has been a privilege to serve in the Senate with my good friend Peter Fitzgerald. As many Illinois newspapers wrote when Peter announced he would not seek re-election, his decision to retire from the U.S. Senate is a true loss for the people of Illinois. I could not agree more. In the 1998 race for his Senate seat, Peter proved himself to be an exceptional campaigner, defeating a well-known incumbent in a State that had not elected a Republican in 20 years. And in that year, he was the only Republican challenger in the country to defeat an incumbent Democratic Senator. But Peter's vision, message and leadership resonated with Illinoisans, and they elected him by a 6 point margin. Arriving in Washington as the youngest member of the Senate, Peter hit the ground running as a strong voice for Illinois. He has been a steadfast advocate for taxpayers, consistently backing efforts to cut wasteful spending and reduce taxes. And he has been a proponent for consumer safety issues, focusing on areas such as improving car safety and child booster seats. I have the utmost respect for Peter. His courage and determination, even when faced with a daunting challenge, are remarkable. He has gone up against unscrupulous corporations and political corruption.”