The US Senate is an exasperating legislative body, very slow to take action, and having too many members who cause one to roll his or her eyes and to sigh!
But it has its heroes and heroines, those members one knows are truly committed to reform and decency, and care about the middle class and the poor.
The “Honor Roll” of its ten most heroic members would include by last name alphabetical order the following, all Democrats:
Barbara Boxer of California
Sherrod Brown of Ohio
Chris Coons of Delaware
Al Franken of Minnesota
Kirsten Gillibrand of New York
Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota
Bernie Sanders of Vermont
Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts
Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island
Ron Wyden of Oregon
The “Honorable Mention” list of five other Senators would include four Democrats and one Republican:
Tom Harkin of Iowa
Patrick Leahy of Vermont
Jeff Merkley of Oregon
Barbara Mikulski of Maryland
Susan Collins of Maine (the only Republican)
The author welcomes commentary on these selections!
Hello Professor,
Babs Mikulski, as we call her back home, has been as great complement to Maryland for several years holding several elected offices.
Yes, Engineer Of Knowledge, and she is the longest serving woman in the US Senate in American history, having recently surpassed Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine in longevity!
I agree Engineer! I have met Senator Mikulski on a number of occasions. Every year we would take our senior nursing students to Annapolis a couple times when legislation concerning health care was in discussion or voting. She is a hardworking, strong lady and a whole bunch of the republicans could learn a lot from her!!
Hello Maggie,
Yes…all should take a page from her to be an example of what they should be in government. Very well stated.