Russ Feingold: “I have to say I certainly enjoy being in the U.S. Senate. It is the greatest honor of my life. I hope to be here for…”

“I have to say I certainly enjoy being in the U.S. Senate. It is the greatest honor of my life. I hope to be here for quite a while, at least 5 more years. But I am a little surprised to see such great passion in this body for the defense of this system. I have heard some of the greatest expressions of concern that I have heard in the last year and a half about this issue. I just do not understand how it can be such a big concern. The Senator from Maine suggested that this is a different institution, and it is. It is a different institution from the executive. And, yes, it is a different institution from a State legislature, but I suggest only by degree. It is grander. We are involved in more issues. But I have to return to my own experience. Maybe I am one of the only Members in this body--maybe the only Member--who has actually worked in a system for 10 years that had an even tougher rule than this. In the Wisconsin legislature you cannot do anything--pure and simple. You just cannot do it.”