George Voinovich

The system ought to be able to take care of them.

I want to again thank you, Senator Akaka, for being here today.

I have been in the business almost 45, and I thought it is time to get off the stage.

I do not think people realize that they are the intake for just about all the Federal agencies.

And it is a lifetime appointment.

Yes. If they would just take that little piece and do it and just say, 'Yes, we think this is good, or if you have got to change, work it out and then come back.'

I think that the folks that would be interested in this also are the ones charged with figuring out how do we deal with the debt and how do we balance budgets.

You just have to ask yourself, what has that got to do with the role of the Department? Is this just revenue sharing?

If we do not give you the resources to get the job done, how can you do it?

Well, as I said, it would give me comfort to know that they have had a role of looking at this and have signed off and said, 'That is a way to get the job done,' and then you would agree on, well, let us agree on whether we are getting it…

The creation of DHS was the largest public sector reorganization, perhaps in history.

Currently, I am trying to identify a Republican who might be as interested in this as I am to become your partner, because I do not think this is going to be over tomorrow or the next day.

You really do a good job and you are making a difference for our country.

How long did we take to get the 'management integration plan'? It took forever.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

One of the things that I have pointed out to folks around here, particularly the media, is that they are not aware of some of the really good things that are happening in the U.S. Senate in various committees and how chairmen and ranking…

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you. One of the most comforting things for me is that we started out about 10 years ago to work together and had an agenda, and after you took over as Chairman, we continued it.

Thank you for your work and pass the word on that the Senator from Ohio is really happy.

And the last thing is the resources that you need to get the job done. The problem is it will always get shortchanged, and it just drives me crazy that more departments do not really stand up and start raising all kinds of you know what…

I am concerned about that.

I really have appreciated the wonderful relationship our office has had with GAO over the years.

And you agree that what they have come back with is a good plan in terms of integration.

When we talked to Mr. Borras this morning, I indicated to him that it would be good if you would look at it and comment on whether you think it makes sense in order to deal with the acquisition problem.

I am proud that someone who was born in Ohio is such a dedicated public serviceperson.

I would like to thank you for holding this hearing today on the nomination of Ms. Raffinan to be an Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Superior Court.