January 6, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 155, Pt. 1 49 our own beloved TED KENNEDY, who much of a lawmaker’s time, too much look forward—yes, look forward to the went from being a bitter adversary in of a lawmaker’s energy is now con- next 50 years. Amen. Amen. the beginning of my years to my dear- sumed in raising money for the next That concludes my remarks. est friend. It has been an honor and a election or to pay off the last one. I yield the floor and I say good night great privilege to have served with I lament that too many legislators in to the Chair and all the people here. these Senators and with so many oth- both parties continue to regard the I suggest the absence of a quorum. ers who have contributed and who still Chief Executive in a roll much more The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. contribute to the Senate to make it elevated than the Framers of the Con- SANDERS). The clerk will call the roll. the great institution it has become. I stitution ever intended. The Framers The legislative clerk proceeded to hope and I pray to the Good Lord that of the Constitution did not envision call the roll. in my 50 years here, I have also made the Office of the President of the Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I a small but positive contribution, and I United States as having the attributes ask unanimous consent the order for pray that I will continue to do so. of royalty. We as legislators have a re- the quorum call be rescinded. Because of the good people of West sponsibility to work with the Chief Ex- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Virginia, my half century—my 50 ecutive, but it was intended for this to objection, it is so ordered. years—of service in this Chamber has be a two-way street, not a one-way f allowed the foster son of an impover- street. The Senate must again rise and ished coal miner from the hills of be the coequal branch of Government MINNESOTA SENATE RACE southern West Virginia—and the wife which the Constitution of the United Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, ear- of that coal miner to have a son—to States intended it to be. lier today there were some comments have the opportunity to walk with I lament the decline of the thorough- about the Minnesota Senate race that I Kings, to meet with Prime Ministers, ness of Senate committee hearings. In would like to briefly address. The only and to debate with Presidents. I have its classic study, ‘‘Congressional Gov- people who have pronounced the Min- had the privilege not only to witness ernment,’’ Woodrow Wilson pointed out nesota Senate race over are Wash- but also to participate in much of that the ‘‘informing function of Con- ington Democrats and the candidate America’s history. From the beginning gress is its most important function.’’ who is the current custodian of the and the apex of the Cold War to the This was revealed in 1973 when, after 8 most votes. The people of Minnesota collapse of the Soviet Union, from my days of hearings and after hours upon certainly do not believe the Minnesota opposition to the 1964 Civil Rights Act hours of questioning, L. Patrick Gray, Senate race is over. The Minneapolis to my role in securing the funds for the President Nixon’s nominee to be Direc- Star Tribune, which never could be building of the memorial to Martin Lu- tor of the FBI, revealed that White confused for a conservative publica- ther King, from my support for the war House counselor John Dean had lied— tion, wrote an editorial in their paper in Vietnam to my opposition to Mr. lied—lied—to FBI investigators, thus today entitled, ‘‘Court Review is Key Bush’s war with Iraq, I have served beginning the unraveling of the Water- in Senate Recount.’’ here, and I have loved every second of gate coverup. Today, we have the Writing about yesterday’s Can- every blessed minute of it. knowledge this could not happen with vassing Board findings, the editorial My half century of service in the the time restrictions that are in place says—and again, this is in today’s Min- great Senate has also allowed me to ex- on the Senate’s hearings. neapolis Star Tribune—the editorial perience profound changes in this insti- I am pleased to say that during my today says: tution. Unfortunately, not all of them half century in the Senate, there have As Minnesotans are learning, that deter- have been for the best. also been positive changes in the Sen- mination is not the same as declaring a win- During my tenure, especially in re- ate. I will mention a few. The first is ner in this amazingly close race. cent years, this Chamber has become the Senate has become more open and It went on to say: bitterly partisan. All of us already the Senate has become more con- Both Franken and Coleman should want know this, so I will not belabor the stituent friendly. This was highlighted court-ordered answers to questions that the point other than to say we should do in 1986 when television cameras were fi- Canvassing Board could not answer. better. I will point out that we should nally installed and the American peo- The winner of this contest deserves the le- do something about the vitriol before ple all across this country could watch gitimacy that would come with a court’s po- it destroys the Senate and the people’s their Senators debate the issues of the litically independent finding that he got faith in the Senate. day on C–SPAN. I am proud to have more votes than his opponent. If anyone thinks I am exaggerating, I been a part—though a small part—but The bottom line is this: The Senate will give just one example. The fili- a part of that innovation. race in Minnesota will be determined buster is a prime guarantee of the prin- During my tenure, the Senate has be- by Minnesotans, not here in the Sen- ciple of minority rights in the Senate. come more open and it has become ate. The filibuster is a device by which a more diverse. When I came here in 1959, f single Senator can bring the Senate to there was only one—one female Sen- a halt if that Senator believes his ator. In the 111th Congress, there are 17 OPENING OF THE 111TH CONGRESS cause is just. But our partisan warfare women in the Senate. In the 50 years Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, the has often transformed this unique, fun- prior to my service, not a single—not opening of a new Congress is always an damental Senate tool into a political one African American was elected to important moment in the life of our weapon which has been abused. As a re- the Senate. During my 50 years here, Nation. Every time a gavel falls on a sult, there have lately been efforts to three African Americans have been new legislative term, we are reminded abolish it. If this should ever happen, a elected to the Senate. This is a small of the grandeur of the document we are vital and historic protection of the lib- number, but one of those three has now sworn to uphold. We are grateful to the erties of the American people will be been elected to the highest office in the citizens of our respective States—in lost, and the Senate will cease to func- land—President of the United States. my case the people of Kentucky—who tion as the one institution that has So, my fellow colleagues, we have come give us the opportunity to serve. We provided protection for the views and a very, very, very long way. are thankful once again that the U.S. the prerogatives of a minority. Let me conclude my remarks by sim- Constitution has endured to guarantee I lament the ever-increasing costs of ply acknowledging it has been a won- the freedom and the prosperity of so running for a Senate seat. In 1958, Jen- derful 50 years serving in this ‘‘great many for so long. nings Randolph and I spent a combined forum of constitutional American lib- The growth of our Nation over the $50,000 to win the two Senate seats in erty.’’ I only wish my darling wife, who years is one of the most remarkable West Virginia. Today, Senators can ex- now sings in the heavenly choir above, feats of man, and it was far from inevi- pect to spend about $7 million. Too were here today to say with me that I table. When Congress first organized VerDate Mar 15 2010 11:36 Apr 22, 2011 Jkt 079102 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR09\S06JA9.000 S06JA9 erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with BOUND RECORD 50 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 155, Pt. 1 January 6, 2009 under the Constitution, the United spent. If lawmakers think it is, then face of pressure on congressional States consisted of 11 States and 3 mil- they need to make a convincing case to Democrats from interest groups and lion citizens. Today, more people than the people who are paying for it. local politicians. that live in Kentucky alone. Yet de- Now, 16 years ago we rejected a simi- Here is an issue on which the Repub- spite a bloody Civil War, the arrival of lar stimulus the size of the Minnesota licans and Democrats can work to- millions of immigrants, economic col- State budget.