Arlen Specter: “Before I yield the floor, I wish to compliment my distinguished colleague, Senator Tom Harkin. Senator Harkin and I have…”

“Before I yield the floor, I wish to compliment my distinguished colleague, Senator Tom Harkin. Senator Harkin and I have worked side by side. Sometimes I have been chairman; sometimes he has been chairman. I like it better when I am chairman. But I also like it when he is chairman. We have what we call a seamless transfer of the gavel. People complain there is a lot of bickering in Washington, DC, and there is too much infighting. Well, Tom Harkin and Arlen Specter do not do that. We try to set an example of working together in the public interest. May I also add, I do the same thing with Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr., my colleague from Pennsylvania. We meet frequently and go over the key issues. When there are major events--we had a big hearing in Philadelphia on juvenile gang violence. I invited Senator Casey to come along. He has had some ideas and some programs he has advocated, and he has invited me. We went to Pittsburgh to swear in some judges. I made sure it suited Senator Casey's schedule. People like to see Democrats and Republicans working together. Senator Casey and I do, and, I say to the Senator from Iowa, certainly you and I do, Mr. Chairman. So I thank you. I thank Ellen Murray and Sudip for their extraordinary work.”