As the contracts were voted down, one-by-one, after the Democrats had deposed of their leader, Russ Decker, senators stood up to give closing remarks. Many of them honored members of their family.
Dave Hansen, the acting Senate Majority Leader, referenced his deceased granddaughter, and said he hoped to remain friends with his colleagues. Lena Taylor, who, just minutes before had referenced Decker's defection and said "it's not all about you," and that she would look forward to seeing who "gets an appointment," thanked him for his service and said she appreciated appointments he had given her.
Kathleen Vinehout, however, stood up and adjourned in honor of state workers. Visibly emotional, the senator from Alma who barely won re-election in November lamented the damage the failed vote would do to worker protections, especially for those at the lowest end of the pay ladder. "I'm afraid we did them a great disservice today, Mr. President," she concluded.
