Russ Feingold: “first let me praise the Senator from New Jersey and associate myself with his excellent remarks in opposition to this…”

“first let me praise the Senator from New Jersey and associate myself with his excellent remarks in opposition to this amendment both on marriage and with regard to the obvious point that we should be working on issues affecting the American people. The Constitution of the United States is a historic guarantee of individual freedom. For over two centuries, it has served as a beacon of hope, an example to people around the world who yearn to be free and to live their lives without Government interference, with their most basic personal decisions. I, like everyone else in the Senate, took an oath when I joined this body to support and defend the Constitution. I am saddened, therefore, to be once again debating an amendment to our Constitution that is so inconsistent with our Nation's history of expanding and protecting freedom. There are serious issues facing this Congress. The fight against terrorism, the war in Iraq, health care, high gas prices, relief and recovery after Hurricane Katrina, the economy. These are the issues upon which the American people are demanding that Congress act. But instead, we are spending much of this week debating the poorly thought out, divisive, and politically motivated constitutional amendment that everyone knows has no chance of success in the Senate.…”