[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 38 (Thursday, March 30, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S2596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
A SPEAKER FOR IDAHO
Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I never had the opportunity to serve with
Bruce Newcomb in the Idaho State Legislature, but having been
privileged to get to know him, I very much would have enjoyed working
with a man of his caliber.
Bruce is retiring from the Idaho House of Representatives at the end
of the 2006 session, and he will be sorely missed by his colleagues in
the legislature and his constituents in Idaho. Bruce has developed a
reputation of being an honest and evenhanded speaker of the house whose
sense of humor helps in tackling contentious issues and a heavy
workload. In addition, he is a strong leader who is not afraid to make
a strong stand when the situation calls for it.
Having grown up on a working farm and ranch in Idaho myself, I
understand the difficulty of going to Boise to serve in the legislature
in the middle of the calving season. Bruce has been able to handle his
work as a rancher while serving the constituents of Idaho, without
sacrificing the quality of either profession--not to mention his
important duties as a family man, the husband of Celia Gould and father
of five children. It takes a truly talented man to handle all these
responsibilities and continue to have such strong loyalty and respect
from colleagues, family, and friends.
Over the 2006 President's Day recess, I had the opportunity to share
the floor with Bruce at the Mini-Cassia Lincoln Day Luncheon in Burley,
ID, to answer questions from the constituents of Idaho. Bruce fielded
all the State-related questions and handled them with impressive
knowledge, not to mention a down-home country charm which made
complicated issues easy to understand. After seeing Bruce in action
with his constituents in his home district, it is easy to understand
why he will leave such huge boots to fill when he retires.
Bruce served 20 years in the Idaho House of Representatives, where he
held many different leadership roles: majority caucus chairman,
assistant majority leader, majority leader, and four terms as speaker
of the house. His four terms as speaker marks him as the longest-
serving speaker in the Idaho House of Representatives.
Bruce, thank you for your service to our State. You truly are a
speaker who speaks for Idaho.
Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, when the 2006 session of the Idaho State
Legislature adjourns this year, it will signal the end of an era. The
longest-serving speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives will be
retiring. Bruce Newcomb, a rancher from Burley, will leave the
legislature after a total of 20 years. He spent the past four terms as
speaker and leaves boots that will be difficult to fill, to say the
least.
Bruce and I served together in the legislature in the late 1980s. My
former colleague is a thoughtful man of principle and a terrific sense
of humor. Bruce is also one of my closest friends. Over the years, I
have worked with him on many issues important to Idaho, and I know that
I can always turn to him for solid advice and counsel. His reputation
for cooperation and collaboration is well deserved. He consistently
seeks out fair and just solutions to policy challenges, even the more
contentious and divisive such as water issues and term limits.
Nevertheless, Bruce is unafraid to take a respectful but strong stand
when circumstances require it. He earned such loyalty among colleagues
and coworkers that when he lost his hair in a bout with cancer in the
1990s, many of them shaved their heads in a show of solidarity.
Bruce takes his public service very seriously. Idaho has gained from
his wisdom, love for our State and ability to see clearly a path
forward. Idaho's legislature is losing a remarkable man who has served
all Idahoans faithfully and with excellence. I wish him and his family
the very best in retirement, and thank him for his steady, close
friendship over the years.
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