Kay Bailey Hutchison: “I rise to say goodbye to several of my colleagues, dear friends and colleagues with whom I have had the pleasure to work…”

“I rise to say goodbye to several of my colleagues, dear friends and colleagues with whom I have had the pleasure to work in the Senate. Don Nickles I start with Senator Don Nickles. We say goodbye to Don Nickles of Oklahoma who leaves after spending 24 years in the Senate, but not spending much else. As chairman of the Budget Committee, his philosophy of smaller government and fiscal prudence often reminded this Chamber of our duty to be good stewards of the taxpayer dollars. Don did not back down but always held his ground, demonstrating his perseverance and conviction. He was first chosen by his colleagues for a leadership position in 1988 as the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. He was next elected to the first of three terms as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, and in 1996, 1998, and 2000, he was elected unanimously to be assistant Republican leader. He was the principal sponsor of the 2003 economic growth package which cut the tax on dividends, reduced the capital gains rate, raised the child tax credit to $1,000 per child, and reduced the marriage penalty.”