Voinovich on DeWine

Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, made the following speech on the Senate floor last night about Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, who lost his bid for re-election last month:

MR. PRESIDENT, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT OUR SENIOR SENATOR FROM OHIO, MIKE DeWINE. LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING THIS IS A SPEECH THAT I HOPED I WOULD NEVER HAVE TO GIVE.

FOR MANY IN THIS CHAMBER, WINTER CAME A LITTLE EARLY THIS YEAR. THE BLIZZARD OF POLITICAL CHANGE SWEPT THROUGH THE COUNTRY, AND UNFORTUNATELY, MANY WERE UNABLE TO WEATHER THE STORM. AND IN MY PARTICULAR CASE AND IN OUR STATE, THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN. MIKE DeWINE WAS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE LEGISLATORS WE HAVE IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE. HE WAS A VICTIM -- HE WAS A VICTIM OF THIS STORM. AND I'M DEEPLY SADDENED THAT OUR RESPECTED COLLEAGUE WILL NOT BE JOINING US WHEN WE CONGREGATE AGAIN FOR THE 110th CONGRESS.

MIKE'S TIRELESS COMMITMENT TO LEGISLATING, HIS WILLINGNESS AND ABILITY TO WORK WITH BOTH PARTIES, AND HIS INGENUITY WILL BE SORELY MISSED BY EVERYONE IN THE SENATE. AND THE STATE OF OHIO. MIKE HAS SERVED THE PEOPLE OF OHIO FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, BEGINNING AS AN ASSISTANT COUNTY PROSECUTOR IN 1992. HE SERVED AS GREENE COUNTY PROSECUTOR FOR FOUR YEARS, STATE SENATOR FOR TWO YEARS, CONGRESSMAN FOR EIGHT YEARS, AND HE WAS MY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR FOUR YEARS WHEN I WAS GOVERNOR OF OHIO. AND, OF COURSE, HE SERVED US FOR 12 YEARS AS OUR UNITED STATES SENATOR.

HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND LEAST PARTISAN MEMBERS IN THIS BODY. DURING CAMPAIGN SEASON, SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE KEPT ASKING ME, "HOW'S MIKE DOING? HOW'S HE DOING?" AND FRANKLY, I THINK THEY WERE SECRETLY HOPING
THAT HIS POLL NUMBERS WOULD BE STRONG ENOUGH THAT HE WOULDN'T BECOME A TARGET. UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE NUMBERS NEVER GOT UP AND HE ENDED UP BEING A TARGET.

FAR TOO MANY MEMBERS SEE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AS AN UNSURPASSABLE DEDIVIDE. NOT MIKE DeWINE.

OVER AND OVER AGAIN MIKE BUILT BRIDGES BETWEEN OUR PARTIES. AND HE GOT THINGS DONE FOR AMERICA AND FOR OHIO. JANET AND I FEEL LIKE MIKE AND HIS WONDERFUL WIFE FRAN ARE A PART OF OUR FAMILY. AFTER WORKING WITH MIKE FOR THE PAST 16 YEARS, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT HIM.

IN FACT, RIGHT FROM THE START, I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING REFRESHINGLY DIFFERENT ABOUT MIKE DeWINE. THE INCEPTION OF OUR FRIENDSHIP CAME IN 1990 WHEN MIKE AND I WERE BOTH RUNNING IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR OF OHIO. IT WAS A CROWDED FIELD WITH MIKE, BOB TAFT, AND I VYING FOR THE GOVERNOR'S SPOT. IT WAS THEN WE REALLY GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER. WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST FOR OHIO AND FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND, QUITE FRANKLY, FOR OUR RESPECTIVE POLITICAL FUTURES. WE DECIDED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS AS RUNNING MATES AND MIKE AGREED TO RUN AS MY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. AND I KNEW THIS WAS A VERY TOUGH DECISION FOR MIKE BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BE GOVERNOR AND WAS GIVING UP A VERY SAFE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT TO RUN FOR STATE OFFICE. AND AT THAT MOMENT, I KNEW I HAD A FIRST-RATE PARTNER, A MAN WITH GREAT CHARACTER AND HUMILITY AS WELL AS UNIQUE POLITICAL POISE AND PROMISE.

BOTH OF US KNEW WE HAD A LONG, TOUGH RACE AHEAD OF US WITH NO GUARANTEES. THIS WAS NOT A LAYUP SHOT. THIS ELECTION WAS A -- THERE WAS A REAL QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT WE WERE GOING TO SUCCESSFUL OR NOT. AND HE'S GIVING UP A SAFE SEAT IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS WITH A BIG FAMILY. BUT WE HAD A GREAT TIME RUNNING FOR STATE OFFICE. AND MIKE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH THE STATE AS A WHOLE.

I REMEMBER WHEN HE AND FRAN PACKED THE KIDS UP IN THE VAN AND THEY TRAVELED EVERY INCH OF OHIO, BECOMING INTIMATE WITH THE APPALACHIAN EAST, ITS MANUFACTURING NORTH, AND ITS INTERIOR FARMLAND. WE WENT ON TO WIN THE GENERAL ELECTION AND, AS I LIKE TO SAY, TOGETHER WE DID IT. TOGETHER WE WON THE ELECTION AND TOGETHER WE CHARTED A NEW COURSE FOR OHIO.

AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, MIKE TOOK OVER THE STATE'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES, WHERE HE LED THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME AND ILLEGAL DRUGS. IT WAS A RELIEF TO HAVE MIKE AS MY PARTNER WHEN WE HAD THE LUCASVILLE RIOTS WHICH BROKE OUT ON EASTER SUNDAY IN 1993. IT WAS THE LARGEST PRISON DISTURBANCE IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, GENERATING A GREAT DEAL OF NATIONAL ATTENTION. MIKE'S BACKGROUND IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND HIS CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT HELPED US RESPOND QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGEDY BUT FORTUNATELY TOGETHER, AND WITH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE MADE IT THROUGH.

IN 1992, WHEN THE OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY NEEDED A CHALLENGER TO RUN AGAINST THE FAMOUS ASTRONAUT AND GIANT IN OHIO POLITICS, JOHN GLENN, MIKE WAS THE OBVIOUS CHOICE. HE AND FRAN WORKED TIRELESSLY TO WIN THAT SEAT. UNFORTUNATELY, VICTORY WAS NOT IN THE CARDS THAT YEAR BUT TRIUMPH WAS IMMINENT. TWO YEARS LATER, MIKE BECAME A U.S. SENATOR AND OUR PARTY SWEPT THE STATE, JUST AS THE DEMOCRATS DID THIS YEAR IN OHIO.

MIKE RETURNED TO WASHINGTON AS A U.S. SENATOR WITH MORE PERSPECTIVE, MORE EXPERIENCE, AND MORE INSIGHT INTO THE CHALLENGES FACING OHIO THAN WHEN HE LEFT THE CONGRESS AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AND WITHOUT A LOT OF FANFARE, HE QUIETLY WENT TO WORK.

OF COURSE, MIKE HAS BEEN SHAPED BY MANY THINGS, AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TALK ABOUT HIS ACHIEVEMENTS IN PUBLIC SERVICE WITHOUT MENTIONING THE TERRIBLE MISFORTUNE HE AND FRAN EXPERIENCED BACK IN 1994. I WILL NEVER FORGET THE DAY WHEN MIKE AND FRAN LOST THEIR DAUGHTER BECKY. I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE TREMENDOUS PAIN THEY SUFFERED THE DAY THAT CHANGED THEIR LIVES STICKS IN MY MEMORY MUCH LIKE THE DAY WHEN JANET AND I LOST OUR DAUGHTER MOLLY. MIKE TRANSLATED THE LOVE THAT HE HAD AND FRAN HAD FOR BECKY INTO HIS WORK HERE IN THE SENATE. HE BECAME A CHAMPION FOR OUR YOUTH AND FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT REPRESENT THEMSELVES. AND THAT'S WHY TODAY I AM HARD-PRESSED TO THINK OF ANYONE WHO HASN'T BEEN HELPED BY MIKE DeWINE. HIS LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS WHICH SPAN BOTH DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICY REFLECT HIS EFFECT WALL AND COMPASSIONATE NATURE.

MIKE HAS SHOWN TREMENDOUS DEDICATION TOWARD IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF OUR HIGHWAY SYSTEM. HE NOT ONLY AMENDED THE 2005 HIGHWAY BILL TO MAKE PREFERENCES FOR HIGHWAYS NOTED AS BEING UNSAFE BUT ALSO ALLOCATED MORE THAN $56 MILLION OF SAFE-TEA MONEY INTENDED FOR IMPROVING HIGHWAY SAFETY. HE SUCCEEDED IN FURTHER TESTING AN APPROVAL OF MEDICATIONS FOR CHILDREN. HE HELPED ESTABLISH A NATIONAL TOLL-FREE POISON CONTROL HOT LINE. HE ACTED ON BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN OF THE UNITED STATES SERVICE MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAD ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE. AND HE HAS STOOD UP FOR FOSTER CHILDREN TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE PROTECTED AND TO HELP THEM FIND ADOPTIVE PARENTS.

TIME AFTER TIME, SENATOR DeWINE HAS PROTECTED OHIO. HE WAS A CRITICAL VOICE IN PASSING THE SENATE PENSIONS BI BILL, WHICH HELPED ENSURE THAT WORKERS' FUTURES IN OHIO ON BETTER FOOTING. HE IS A COSPONSOR OF THE HEALTH PARTNERSHIP ACT, BECAUSE HE UNDERSTANDS HOW IMPORTANT HEALTH CARE REFORM IS TO OHIOANS AND TO THIS COUNTRY. HE HELPED ENSURE THAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE BETTER EQUIPPED TO FULFILL THEIR MISSIONS AS FIRST RESPONDERS. AND DURING THE BRAC PROCESS, HE WORKED TO KEEP FEDERAL FACILITIES, SUCH AS WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE IN DAYTON, THE DEFENSE FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING CENTER IN CLEVELAND AND COLUMBUS, OPEN AND OPERATING, AND HE LED A NEW MISSION FOR OHIO'S NASA GLENN IN CLEVELAND.

TODAY THESE FACILITIES ARE THRIVING AND CONTRIBUTING TO OHIO'S AEROSPACE INDUSTRY AND TO OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE. I HAVE TO SAY THAT I DON'T THINK THAT THERE WAS A STATE IN THE COUNTRY THAT BENEFITED MORE FROM THE BRAC PROCESS THAN OHIO. AND IT IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP THAT MIKE DeWINE GAVE ALL OF US IN TERMS OF THAT BRAC PROCESS.

MIKE'S ALWAYS BEEN A FRIEND OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND HAS MADE IT A PRIORITY TO HELP STAMP OUT ANTISEMITISM AND INTOLERANCE HERE IN AMERICA. HE PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN HELPING DISCLOSE PREVIOUSLY CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS ABOUT NAZI AGGRESSION, LEGISLATION THAT MADE THESE RECORDS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION. AND TODAY, THANKS TO MIKE, DOCTORS, NURSES, AND AID WORKERS ARE MORE PREPARED TO CONFRONT THE GLOBAL AIDS EPIDEMIC.

MIKE HAS CARRIED A HEAVY BURDEN WHILE HE'S BEEN IN THE SENATE. HE SITS ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, THE "HELP" COMMITTEE, AND THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE. HE ALSO SITS ON ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS COMMITTEES IN THE SENATE, APPROPRIATIONS. IN FACT, MIKE WAS THE FIRST OHIOAN IN 50 YEARS -- IN 50 YEARS -- TO SIT ON APPROPRIATIONS. HIS POSITION OF LEADERSHIP AND THE RESOURCES HE'S BEEN ABLE TO BRING BACK TO OHIO HAS MADE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE FOR OUR STATE AND A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE. I USED TO JOKE WITH MIKE THAT MY JOB AS THE DEBT HAWK WAS TO MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T SPEND THE MONEY. BUT ONCE WE DECIDED THAT WE WERE GOING TO SPEND IT, HIS JOB WAS TO MAKE SURE OHIO GOT ITS FAIR SHARE. AND, BOY, DID HE DO A GOOD JOB.

MR. PRESIDENT, THESE ARE JUST A HANDFUL OF EXAMPLES WHERE MY CLOSE FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, MIKE DeWINE, HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE. HIS LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HIS LEGACY OF PRINCIPLED PUBLIC SERVICE HAVE HAD A DEEP IMPACT ON ALL OF OUR LIVES.

THE SENATE WILL SUFFER A LOSS WITHOUT MIKE BUT HE WILL NOT SLIP OUT OF THE SENATE. HE WILL WALK OUT THESE DOORS WITH HIS HEAD HELD HIGH BECAUSE HE CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT ALL THAT HE HAS GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE OF OHIO AND TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. HE HAS TRULY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES.

MARRIED FOR MORE THAN 39 YEARS, MIKE AND FRAN ARE PARENTS TO EIGHT CHILDREN AND GRANDPARENTS TO 10. THEY HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH MUCH HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS, AND THEY HAVE CARVED OUT MANY MEANINGFUL PATHS DURING THEIR LIFE TOGETHER. WHILE MIKE WILL BE MISSED, I'M CONFIDENT THAT HE AND FRAN WILL BEGIN SOMETHING NEW IN THIS NEXT CHAPTER OF THEIR LIVES. THEY HAVE BOTH GIVEN SO MUCH, AND I BELIEVE THAT GOD DOES HAVE A PLAN. SOMETIMES WE AREN'T REALLY SURE ABOUT WHAT IT IS, BUT GOD DOES HAVE A PLAN.

AND I'M REMINDED OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE VERSES FROM THE BIBLE: PROVERBS 3:5-6. TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT UNTO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDINGS AND ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATH.

MIKE WILL BE MISSED BUT I KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL CONTINUE TO GUIDE THEM AS THEY EMBARK ON A NEW JOURNEY TOGETHER.