MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON
Montana Sen. Conrad Burns gave an emotional farewell speech on the Senate floor Wednesday, thanking colleagues and constituents and asking the Senate to “return to the deliberative and collegial body it was designed to be.” “As I rise today and say my farewell to this body, I do it with some sadness, but I also do it with some great pride,” Burns said. Republican Burns, 71, narrowly lost his November re-election bid to Democrat Jon Tester after 18 years in the Senate. He said the chamber is not the collegial “debate body” it was when he was sworn in on January 3, 1989. “I would suggest that we turn off that eye’ that surrounds this body ... and turn the Senate back into a debate body that it was once known for, the collegiality, because the best I have ever seen the Senate operate is in executive session when you turn off the television and get to the issue,” he said. He said Montana has moved in a positive direction since he took office, mentioning the timber and mining and oil and agriculture industries. He called the state’s colleges and universities “natural leaders in research and agriculture.” “We have (new) opportunities now. ... They’ve opened up, and I’m proud to say that it was me and my office that led the way on most of those changes,” he said. “It is said it is not bragging if you done it.” Burns looked back on the world events that happened during his tenure and said many challenges remain. “I can only list about six of them taxation, regulation, energy, health care, education and litigation,” he said. “We must face those challenges if we are to live in this free entrepreneurial and economic country.” Democrats hammered Burns during the campaign on his connections to lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who was convicted on federal corruption charges earlier this year. But Burns stressed his seniority in Congress and his position on the Senate Appropriations Committee, which doles out federal dollars. Montana’s other senator, Democrat Max Baucus, campaigned against Burns this year but praised him and thanked him Wednesday in a speech he prepared to give on the Senate floor. “For the last 18 years, Senator Burns has been my partner working for Montana in the U.S. Senate,” said Baucus, who was elected to the chamber in 1978. “We haven’t agreed on everything, but we have something important in common. We both care deeply about the welfare of Montana and Montanans.” Burns talked about his childhood on a small farm in Missouri and looked back on the day he was sworn in, saying he “got to thinking that only in America could something like this happen.” “It’s truly the miracle of our country,” Burns said. “It was also a proud day for all of our family.”
