[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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