[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8561]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING GEORGE VOINOVICH

  Mr. REID. Madam President, before I start my remarks on the subject 
of the day, I wish to speak about another subject of the day, as 
Senator McConnell has indicated, George Voinovich. He was a fine man. 
He died yesterday morning. He was a colleague and a friend. He passed 
away at his home in Cleveland, which Senator McConnell talked about. He 
was one of the most experienced public servants with whom I have 
served. His career in public service began 53 years ago as Ohio's 
assistant attorney general. From there, he served as a member of the 
Ohio House of Representatives, county auditor, county commissioner, 
Lieutenant Governor, mayor of Cleveland, Governor of Ohio, and then in 
1999 he brought his wealth of experience to the U.S. Senate.
  Senator Voinovich was well regarded for his preparation and hard 
work. He was courageous. George was one of the few Senate Republicans 
to speak out against the unpaid-for Bush tax cuts because he thought 
they were wrong. He questioned the strategy of the war in Iraq, which 
he also thought was wrong. George Voinovich was right on both of those 
issues, and the other Republicans were wrong.
  Senator Voinovich voted to repeal don't ask, don't tell and bucked 
the rest of his party by voting for background checks on all firearm 
purchases at gun shows. Again, he was right, and his colleagues were 
wrong.
  Today the Senate mourns the Voinovich family.
  I send my personal condolences to George's wife of 54 years, Janet; 
their children, George, Betsy, and Peter; and their seven 
grandchildren. He was a great Senator. He will be missed by his loved 
ones, the people of Ohio, and the United States.

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