Senator Kohl says goodbye

Kohl makes farewell address to Senate

In his farewell speech after 24 years in the U.S. Senate, U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl on Thursday thanked his fellow senators, his staff in Washington and Milwaukee, and the people of Wisconsin.

"I rise today for one final time to address the Senate," the Democrat began in his short address, which lasted less than five minutes. "My remarks will be brief and actually I want to say one thing, 'Thank you.' "

He said he wished he could say thank you with the eloquence of such storied senators as Dale Bumpers of Arkansas, Robert Byrd of West Virginia and Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts. "What a privilege it has been to serve with such men," he said, "and with so many other men and women who have made up this body for the last 24 years."

He called his fellow senators friends, advisers and sometimes adversaries. But he said they all did what they felt they had to do for the betterment of the nation. He said the Senate is often referred to as a family. Kohl said he felt that way about his staff, some of whom have worked with him for years.

"Perhaps what I will miss the most upon leaving the Senate is coming to work every day, here in Washington and in Wisconsin, with such a bright, creative, dedicated group of people, constantly focused on what is best for our nation and our state, challenging and pushing me to be the best senator I could be," he said.

"You cannot be a cynic about the future of this country when you work in an office like mine and have the privilege to interact with generations of intelligent, civic-minded and loyal staffers. And so I thank them all for making a hard job not just easy but enjoyable and for serving the people tirelessly and exceedingly well."

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/kohl-makes-farewell-address-to-senate-si8173c-183420931.html



Thank you for your service, Senator Kohl.