Political Quotes

“I rise to pay tribute to one who is known as Mr. Budget of the Senate. When I stepped up to the position of majority leader 4 years ago, my first priority was to hire a staff of capable advisers. When I stepped up, it happened very quickly, so I knew I wanted the best of the best. I already had a wonderful staff devoted to help the people of Tennessee, but what I needed was a core group of people to help me with the larger picture, to set an aggressive agenda and help me get it through. I knew immediately who I wanted to advise me on budget and appropriations. In an ideal world, I knew exactly who that would be. And, of course, that was Bill Hoagland. I had known Bill and worked with Bill as a freshman Senator when he was staff director of the Budget Committee, then chaired by Pete Domenici, and I relied on him through those early days again and again in private meetings and tutorials to show me and to introduce me and my budget staff at the time the budget ropes, the process. So when that Christmas Eve 4 years ago came, I picked up the phone and I called Bill Hoagland. I asked--I pleaded with him--to become a part of my team.”