[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 25176]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                      A TRIBUTE TO SENATOR KERREY

  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I have been remiss in not taking the 
floor to pay tribute to the Senator from Nebraska for his service here. 
The presentation we have had, although I disagree in some detail with 
some of the aspects of it, demonstrates how much we will miss him. The 
Senator from Nebraska has been a key figure in the group that has been 
known variably around here as the Centrist Coalition, or Chafee-Breaux, 
or the group that tries to get together across partisan lines and work 
things out.
  As I sat in the chair and listened to the Senator from Nebraska, I 
realized if he and I could sit down in a room, between the two of us--
and not have the White House there, and not have the leadership there 
of either House--we could arrive at a conclusion that I think he would 
be satisfied with, I would be satisfied with, and I think would be good 
for the country.
  I think that comes from the fact that he has a business background 
and I have a business background. In business, you are not as 
interested in ideology as you are in getting the thing solved.
  So I atone for my past failure and say publicly that this body will 
miss the Senator from Nebraska. This particular Senator considers him 
not only a good friend but a wise legislator, and I think the country 
has been well served as a result of his willingness to give these two 
terms to the Senate. I wish him well in whatever endeavor he undertakes 
in the future.
  I say to the Senator from Nebraska, if he should decide to seek the 
Presidency once again, I would cheer for the Democratic Party to choose 
him as their nominee. I may not vote for him, but I would feel more 
reassured if he were the alternative on the other side.
  Mr. KERREY. I thank the Senator very much.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia.

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