Retiring Sen. Voinovich tells colleagues goodbye

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Sen. George V. Voinovich, R-Ohio

Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Retiring U.S. Sen. George Voinovich tells his colleagues they must tackle a fiscal situation that’s “on life support” and that the country is “on thin ice” and needs the help of its allies.

Voinovich made the comments Wednesday in a farewell address in the chamber.

He says he does not agree with recent legislation to prevent an income-tax increase but compliments the president and legislative leaders for working out a compromise.

He also says it is “vitally important” to ratify a proposed nuclear treaty with Russia, and that diminishing the president in the eyes of the world will impact the country’s international influence and national security.

He counts among his accomplishments the passage of a global anti-Semitism bill, an effort to expand NATO, a bill to protect intellectual property and a nuclear energy renaissance.