[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 111 (Thursday, August 2, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S8847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO KANSAS GOVERNOR JOAN FINNEY

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
Kansan the Presiding Officer knew. She died as a result of 
complications associated with her fight with liver cancer--a lady who 
was the first female Governor of the State of Kansas, Joan Finney. She 
was a lady I had the privilege of serving with in State government.
  I was Secretary of Agriculture under her for a brief period of time. 
She was a remarkable lady.
  One of the tributes that was given to her yesterday, when the State 
paid their final respects to Governor Finney, was by Rev. Francis 
Krische, pastor of the Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, who 
stated to the mourners something about Governor Finney that probably 
captures the essence of Governor Finney, a beautiful woman. He said 
this about her: ``She knew how to be with people. This was one of the 
keys to her success.''
  She really did know how to be with people. She had been elected 
treasurer in the State of Kansas for 4 terms. She was elected as the 
first female Governor in the State of Kansas from 1991 to 1995. She 
started out her career in politics serving a Member of this body, 
Senator Frank Carlson, whose seat I now occupy.
  She worked for him for several years doing constituent work, which 
fit Governor Finney beautifully because she so loved to help people. 
She was beautiful about it. She was beautiful about working with 
people. I would be around her at different events, and it was always so 
amazing to me the depth of her knowledge of the people she would see 
whom she knew. She knew the family members. She knew something about 
what was happening in their families. I sometimes thought she knew all 
of the people of Kansas.
  She was really a beautiful lady. I think the depth of her caring was 
such a key characteristic of hers. To learn and know about an 
individual is how much she cared about the people she was working for 
and serving, whether it was as a caseworker for Senator Carlson or 
whether it was as State treasurer or whether it was as Governor of the 
State of Kansas.
  The Democrat Party, in its annual meeting this year in Topeka, 
adopted a resolution regarding Governor Finney and stated this about 
her: ``She was truly one of Kansas' most adored native daughters. And 
she was.'' She was adored by the people.
  She felt that the people's view was the correct one, even though she 
might disagree with it. She would go ahead and proceed forward with 
that view, whatever it might be. She was, in that sense, a populist in 
the best sense of the word: It was to represent the people. And the 
people's will was paramount in politics.
  She had a deep heart. She really cared for the people who she served. 
And you could see, this was not something that was a practiced skill of 
hers, where she would work, for example, at learning people's names. It 
was written in her heart. She knew these people in her heart. She cared 
for them. While many people would have had disagreements on different 
policy issues, they would never disagree with the heart of Joan Finney 
because it was one of those pure hearts.
  She played the harp for a number of people. She played it 
professionally. It was a gift that she used frequently when asked. It 
was something I think that also helped to express just the inside of 
who this beautiful woman was. She was somebody who really played 
beautifully and played purely in the game of life.
  So as people say their prayers tonight, I hope they remember Joan 
Finney, as well as her husband Spencer, who is still alive, although 
mourning, obviously, the death of his spouse. I hope they will remember 
her. And I can guarantee she would remember them.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. ROBERTS. Madam President, on Wednesday, Kansans paid their final 
respects to Governor Finney and I join with my colleague Senator 
Brownback in expressing our state's condolences to the Finney family.
  While Senate business kept me from attending her funeral in Topeka, I 
want to share with my colleagues her success in Kansas government and 
politics. Although Joan and I belonged to different political parties, 
she put those differences aside when it came to work together for the 
State of Kansas.
  Governor Finney was a straight shooter, never ducking behind guarded 
words. Some believe that her direct nature hurt her politically in the 
State Capitol, but Kansans appreciated this quality. In an interview 
with the Topeka Capital Journal she said, ``I believe the people should 
be supreme in all things . . . Even if you don't agree and the majority 
want a certain issue and believe in a certain issue, I accept that and 
I will stand by the people.''
  Governor Finney is a key figure in Kansas' strong tradition of 
electing women to various offices. She served as State Treasurer for 
four consecutive terms and then was elected as the first female 
governor serving from 1991 to 1995. She will be remembered for her 
dedication and hardwork for all Kansans throughout her life.
  During his sermon, Reverend Francis Krische, pastor of the Most Pure 
Heart of Mary Catholic Church reminded mourners that ``She knew how to 
be with people. This was one of the keys to her success''.
  Madam President, it is painful when God calls home a friend and 
colleague, but her memory will continue to remind us of our commitment 
to our constituents and family.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senator from 
Alabama is recognized for 15 minutes.
  (The remarks of Mr. Sessions pertaining to the introduction of S. 
1346 are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced 
Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')

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