Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) spoke on the Senate floor. farewell speech In it, he appealed to elected officials to prioritize unity in the face of stubborn partisanship.
Romney, who also served as Massachusetts governor and 2012 Republican presidential candidate, said in his speech, “My life's work is group work.”
Romney praised the passage of bipartisan infrastructure legislation in 2021, changes to election tabulation laws, gun safety legislation, and passage of marriage legislation that includes religious protections. But more could have been accomplished without “partisan politics,” he said.
“I'm leaving this chamber with a sense of accomplishment. But the truth is, I'm leaving with the knowledge that I didn't accomplish everything I expected,” Romney said.
“Among other things, the scourge of partisan politics has frustrated repeated efforts to stabilize the national debt. Without the burden of interest on that debt, we could spend three times as much on military procurement.” he continued.
“We have three times as many planes, three times as many ships, three times as many drones, spacecraft, and cyber defenses. Or we can spend twice as much as we spend on Social Security benefits each month. 's national credit cards are nearly maxed out, and America is at risk of becoming insolvent.
“The biggest surprise in the Senate is how much I enjoy the other senators on both sides of the aisle,” Romney said, adding that “there are countless meaningless votes” and “an hour-long debate.” He admitted he had no intention of missing the 10-minute vote.
Romney, preparing to leave the Senate where he has been one of President-elect Trump's most vocal Republican critics, called on the country's leaders to stand up to forces that threaten the country's “unity.” .
“Today there are those who tear apart our unity, those who replace love with hatred, those who ridicule the foundations of our virtues, those who denigrate the values on which the blessings of heaven depend,” he said on the floor. .
“I have spent 25 years in public service and have learned that politics alone cannot address the challenges we face,” Romney said.
Mr. Romney has been critical of Mr. Trump in recent months, but publicly congratulated him after winning last month's election despite his 2020 impeachment and conviction.
Romney announced last year that he would not seek re-election, citing the need for a “new generation” of leaders. Incoming Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) will take office in January.
“The character of a country reflects not only the character of its elected officials, but also the character of its people,” Romney said Wednesday. “I leave Washington and return to one of them, hoping to be a voice for unity and virtue.” “
