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Bayh
says good-bye after serving as Secretary of State, Governor, Senator
Senator Evan Bayh will not run again
Wanda
English Burnett
Editor
With
nearly 25 years in the political spotlight, United States Senator
Evan Bayh (Democrat) is saying good-bye announcing he will not
seek a third senate term.
The announcement came at a news conference at Indiana University
Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) where he reflected on his
near 25 years of public service as Indianas Secretary of
State, two-term Governor, and two-term United States Senator.
Senator Bayh saw his career as a privilege to serve the people
of Indiana and in every aspect worked toward that goal.
As Secretary of State he worked to reform election laws to make
sure that every vote counts. I cast the deciding vote in
the closest congressional race in the nation for a member of the
other political party, because I believed he had legitimately
won the election, he noted.
As the Governor of Indiana he said he had an outstanding team
to balance the budget, cut taxes, leave the largest surplus in
the states history, create the most new jobs in any eight-year
period, and increased funding for schools every year, to name
a few of his accomplishments.
Bayh said in the Senate he will continue to work hard for the
people he serves. I have often been a lonely voice for balancing
the budget and restraining spending. I have worked with Democrats,
Republicans, and Independents alike to do the nations business
in a way that is civil and constructive.
He said after all these years in Washington, his passion to help
his fellow citizens has not diminished, however, he states his
desire to do so by serving in Congress has waned. For some
time, I have had a growing conviction that Congress is not operating
as it should. There is too much partisanship and not enough progress
- too much narrow ideology and not enough practical problem-solving.
Even at a time of enormous challenge, the peoples' business is
not being done.
Bayh says he loves serving his fellow citizens, state and the
nation, but believes he can do so in a better capacity than Congress.
I love working for the people of Indiana, I love helping
our citizens make the most of their lives, but I do not love Congress.
I will not, therefore, be a candidate for election to the Senate
this November.
Saying he particularly valued his relationship with Senator Dick
Lugar, a Republican, he said he often felt that if all Senators
could have the cooperative relationship he and Lugar do, the institution
would be a better place.
Senator Lugar commented on Bayhs decision, It has
been a personal privilege to serve Indiana with a distinguished
father and son, Birch and Evan Bayh. The last 33 years of political
life in our country have often been times of excessive partisanship.
I am grateful that Birch and Evan Bayh were always ready to work
with me in making certain that Hoosier wisdom and common sense
had strong united voices in every debate.
At this time, I simply believe I can best contribute to
society in another way; creating jobs by helping grow a business,
helping guide an institution of higher learning, or helping run
a worthy charitable endeavor, Bayh stated.
I have always tried to remember that my job is to work for
Hoosiers, not the other way around, Bayh said. I am
constantly reminded that if Washington, D.C. could be more like
Indiana, Washington would be a better place.
Governor Mitch Daniels made this statement about Bayhs announcement.
Evan Bayh has served Indiana faithfully and with great integrity
in three decades and three important capacities. At a time when
people of moderation with minds open to the views of others are
increasingly rare in Washington, the nation will miss him as much
as our state does.
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