Senator Kent Conrad Says Farewell - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Senator Kent Conrad says farewell.

Conrad spent the last 26 years in the Senate, today he reflects on those years and the work he's done for the nation, plus the work still needed to be done.

<<North Dakota Democratic Senator Kent Conrad made his first trip to Capitol hill when he was just 16 years old.

"And it so inspired me that I thought you know someday I'd like to be down on that floor and I'd like to debate the great issues of the day, and I would like to represent the people of North Dakota," Kent Conrad said.

Conrad's first run for senate in 1986 was successful, making his teenage dream come true.

During his speech Conrad touched on many of the obstacles he's been through during his years in the senate, including the nation's recent recession, saying there's been improvement, but there's room for more.

"We are currently borrowing 31 cents of every dollar we spend, that is somewhat of an improvement because we were spending 41 cents of every dollar we spent, but this an improvement but we have a long way to go," Conrad said.

He says currently on both sides of the aisle there's too much time being spent seeking partisan advantage, and there needs to be more time solving issues.

"We spend too little time trying to solve problems, too little time in our caucuses, meetings, focused on how to solve the problems facing the country, I deeply believe this is true, and I believe we can do better than this," Conrad said.

Conrad closed his farewell speech thanking his colleagues, family and North Dakotans for allowing him to serve North Dakota, and the nation.

"I began this speech on the 12th hour, 12th day, of the 12th month of 2012, and I leave here forever grateful for the opportunity to serve, thank you," Conrad said.>>

Senator Conrad's last day in the senate is January 2nd.

Conrad is the out-going chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.