Amy Klobuchar: “today I rise in remembrance of my dear friend Brigid McDonough. Many years ago, she agreed to be the treasurer of my…”

“today I rise in remembrance of my dear friend Brigid McDonough. Many years ago, she agreed to be the treasurer of my Senate campaign and stayed in that volunteer job for over a decade. That was a courageous thing to do in this political climate. But that was the kind of friend Brigid was: loyal and always there. She wanted to serve the people. She loved her family. She loved her husband, Reid. I know how hard it was for Reid and Brigid at the end, and the last few years the two of them had together were so precious. Brigid loved her extended family of course. I will always remember being at the Lumberjack Days Parade in Stillwater, and Brigid would run up and give me a big hug--and her sister would run up and give me a big hug and then some other McDonough would. Her affection was contagious. Since her admission to the Minnesota bar in 1984, her life and career were rooted in how she could best lift others up. She believed that government and the law can be used to help people achieve equity and social justice in a world where playing fields are not often level. She used her impressive legal acumen to achieve good things on behalf of many people in our State. Brigid recognized the power of political and community organizing, of getting involved. She was inspired by the DFL tradition and the honest conviction to fight for what is just. If you asked me what politician she was most inspired by, I would have to say Senator Paul Wellstone. He was her hero.…”