[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23515]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                          HONORING NEAL BOORTZ

  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate a 
constituent from my home State of Georgia who is familiar to many of my 
colleagues, and that is radio talk show host Neal Boortz.
  Next month, in November, after 40 years of airing his unique and 
often colorful opinions, skewering lawmakers and pending best-selling 
books, Neal Boortz will be inducted into the National Radio Hall of 
Fame.
  Neal has been an Atlanta institution since his first foray into talk 
radio in 1969 on WRNG Radio. Since 1993, he has been holding forth on 
the airways of WSB-AM 750, a member of the Cox Broadcasting Group. His 
ratings show that he strikes a chord with listeners. For 47 straight 
ratings periods, his show has finished in first place.
  He has also struck a chord with Americans across the country, 
counting among the audience for his nationally syndicated show 
listeners from Maine to California.
  Neal is a confirmed libertarian, dishing out his brand of, as he 
calls it, ``the painful truth'' to Republicans and Democrats alike. And 
I should know; he frequently dishes it out to me, too.
  But Neal is more than a radio talker. In his life, he has been a 
military brat, whose dad was a marine pilot, an attorney, a department 
store clerk, an insurance salesman, a carpet buyer, a postal worker, a 
gubernatorial speechwriter, as well as a motel bookkeeper.
  These experiences form more than an eclectic background. It is the 
foundation that gives Neal the ability to connect with a wide variety 
of listeners from all walks of life, and to voice what is on their 
minds. As Neal puts it: ``Somebody's got to say it.''
  His Hall of Fame honor is the latest in a string of national 
successes, including writing the best-selling books, ``The Fair Tax--
The Truth'' and ``Somebody's Gotta Say It,'' both of which are New York 
Times bestsellers.
  I am pleased to have joined Neal over the years in his fair-tax 
efforts.
  When he is not holding forth on the issues of the day or speaking to 
groups, Neal can be found in the skies or on a golf course. He is an 
avid pilot and, I might add, a very safe pilot, having had some 
experiences with Neal. Neal has been a very good friend of mine for 
many years.
  Like most of us, he married way over his head. His lovely wife Donna 
is his rock.
  Neal's selection to the National Radio Hall of Fame is overdue, and I 
am very happy that this honor has now come to him. With his induction 
into the National Radio Hall of Fame, Neal joins luminaries such as Bob 
Hope, Paul Harvey, and Dick Clark. This honor is well deserved.
  Congratulations, Neal.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum 
call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Merkley.) Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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