Political Quotes

“I was on the floor earlier listening to Senator Portman's farewell address to his colleagues in the U.S. Senate, and I must tell you, it brought back some very fond memories-- over three decades of friendship between Rob Portman and myself as colleagues, as partners, and as friends. Earlier this week, we had a chance in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to express our appreciation to Senator Portman for his service on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. His wife Jane was there, and I made an observation that the sacrifice that Jane has made and that his three children--Jed, Will, and Sally--we thank them for sharing Senator Portman with us and with public service. I think back about three decades. I first got to know Congressman Portman in 1993, when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. An introduction came from former Congressman Bill Gradison. Bill Gradison was a Congressman from Ohio that Rob Portman succeeded in the U.S. House of Representatives. I knew Bill Gradison from my days in the State legislature. We were friends. We had done some business--some bills--together in the House of Representatives, and he told me: You know, you are going to like this Rob Portman. He is the type of guy you are going to be able to work with. And, by the way, I have an issue I would like the two of you to take up. It was a legacy issue for Bill Gradison, and it dealt with hospice care.…”