[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 95 (Thursday, July 16, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H5729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO LOUIE GOLDSTEIN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I want to join my colleague, the gentleman 
from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) in paying tribute to Louie Goldstein, who 
died on July 3rd. Louie Goldstein was Mr. Maryland, Mr. Public servant, 
Mr. Integrity. He loved public service, and the people loved Louis 
Goldstein.
  In 1966, when I was first elected to the Maryland General Assembly, 
Louie Goldstein had already completed his eighth year as comptroller of 
Maryland. He had been comptroller for 40 years. First and foremost, he 
did an outstanding job as the comptroller of our State. Maryland enjoys 
a AAA bond rating, one of the few States in the Nation, thanks to Louie 
Goldstein. He watched over our State Treasury like no one else did.
  I had the opportunity, and I know that the gentleman from Maryland 
(Mr. Hoyer) did also, to travel with Louie Goldstein to New York, to 
Wall Street, and watch him as he explained the intricacies of Maryland 
finance to the bond rating firms in New York. Maryland maintained its 
AAA bond rating because of the confidence Wall Street had in Maryland 
and Louie Goldstein. He saved the people of Maryland millions and 
millions of dollars.

                              {time}  2245

  Louie was an extraordinary campaigner. Those that had the privilege 
of watching him and his campaign activities marveled at his love for 
our system. He attended Democratic conventions from before I was born. 
The zip trips that were organized in Maryland where we traveled all 
over the State in order to campaign for State wide office Louie 
organized. And there are so many stories, I see the gentlewoman from 
Maryland (Mrs. Morella) also on the floor, many interesting stories. 
One time Louie was campaigning in western Maryland. Someone told him 
that he accidentally had gone across the State line in West Virginia. 
He did not know it. Two hours later, Louie was still campaigning in 
West Virginia because, he said, you never know when you are going to 
find someone who has a relative in Maryland.
  Then there was the time that we were going from one town to another. 
Everyone on the bus sort of relaxed a little while, got something to 
drink. But Louie was still at the window waving at a field. We asked, 
why are you there at the window waving? He said, maybe there is someone 
in that barn over there looking out at us. He did not want to miss or 
offend a single person in our State.
  The comptroller serves on the Board of Public Works, one of three, 
along with the governor and the treasurer, that is responsible for many 
of the decisions of government on what leases should be approved or 
what land can be bought or sold. Louie Goldstein knew just about every 
piece of land in our State personally from having visited that area.
  When decisions had to be made as to what was in the best interest of 
our State, Louie could always be counted on to do what was right for 
the people of Maryland, saving our taxpayers, again, millions and 
millions of dollars. That is just the way he was. He understood people. 
He was a good friend. He gave hope to all people that you could 
accomplish anything you wanted to.
  The gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) pointed out his service at 
Washington College and at the University of Maryland. He was their 
number one cheerleader, whether it was at a basketball game or whether 
it was the academic program, lobbying in Annapolis.
  First and foremost, he was a southern Marylander, coming from the 
district now represented by the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer). 
The people of southern Maryland he understood. He was part of the 
culture of that great, great part of our State, and he will always be 
remembered for everything that he has done.
  Mr. Speaker, he died on July 3 after attending a 4th of July parade, 
one of many that he had planned during the 4th of July holiday. He had 
just read with his family the Declaration of Independence, which was a 
tradition that he observed on every 4th of July because that was 
important to him as a great patriot of our country. He lived a great 
life of 85 years, and I know that all of us send our sincere 
condolences to his family.
  May God bless Louie Goldstein real good. We are all blessed for 
having known him.

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