John Thune: “this last weekend as I do most weekends, I went back to my home State of South Dakota and had the opportunity to…”

“this last weekend as I do most weekends, I went back to my home State of South Dakota and had the opportunity to participate in the annual governor's pheasant hunt, which was a huge success in spite of the weather. It is always a great reminder and a great opportunity for me to get away to clear my head, get out in the beautiful country, in the fall in South Dakota, which is a wonderful time of the year, and participate in an activity which has become a trademark and something that is very much a part of our culture in my State of South Dakota. Oftentimes as I travel in my State when I am back home I will hear from some of my conservative friends who express frustration at the fact that sometimes Washington has not come, or that we have not done enough in terms of changing the culture of this city, that we are not making progress fast enough. What I often try to remind them of is what a difference 4 years has made. As I look at the progress that has been made here in the last 4 years, I think it is important to keep in perspective from where we have come so we know where we are going. Four short years ago, we had a President who was trying to invent a national health care system, where the government, this huge bureaucracy, would take over the health care system in this country. We saw the largest tax increase in the history not only of this country but, as someone has said, I believe a Senator, the biggest tax increase in the history of the world.”