Joseph T. Burns: “I do it with some sadness, but I also do it with some great pride. I also do it with a great appreciation for the Senate…”

“I do it with some sadness, but I also do it with some great pride. I also do it with a great appreciation for the Senate and for the people who serve here. It has always been one of my personal honors and privileges to serve the State of Montana and the country for the last 18 years, and with such distinguished and honorable men and women. We have seen a lot of changes. I want to answer my good friend from Florida, before he leaves the floor: We have seen some changes come over the body, and I would suggest that we turn off that eye that surrounds this body, turn it off and turn the Senate back into the debating body it was once known for, with collegiality, because the best I have ever seen the Senate operate is in executive session. When you turn off the television and we get to the issues--and we have some marvelous people, dedicated, on both sides of an issue, who can argue the issue--some of us who may not be as disciplined in that particular issue as others could learn and vote more intelligently. I suggest that, but I doubt that will ever happen, being that that is out in the public today. We need to get back to the great debates that were held on the floor of the Senate many years ago.”