Former Vermont Sen. Stafford Dies At 93

[Kadie]

Dec 23, 2006 8:16 am US/Pacific

Former Vermont Sen. Stafford Dies At 93

(AP) WASHINGTON Former Sen. Robert Stafford, a staunch environmentalist and champion of education whose name is familiar to countless college students through a loan program named for him, died Saturday. He was 93.

Stafford was surrounded by family at a Rutland nursing home when he died at 9:30 a.m., said Neil Houston, his former chief of staff.

Stafford served two years as governor, 11 years in the House and 17 in the Senate before retiring in early 1989.

As ranking Republican on the Senate's environment committee, Stafford repeatedly defended the Superfund program to clean up contaminated sites and shepherded bills combating acid rain and automobile pollution.

In 1988, Congress saluted his dedication to education measures, renaming the Federal Guaranteed Student Loan program the Robert T. Stafford Student Loan program. The low-interest loans are now known almost universally as Stafford loans to the millions who qualify for them each year.

snip...
Stafford, who once considered himself conservative, even hawkish, wasn't shy about bucking presidents of his own party. He led a successful effort to override President Reagan's veto of amendments that strengthened the Clean Water Act, and tangled with industry when he believed it was thwarting efforts to clean the environment.

more...
http://cbs13.com/topstories/topstories_story_357111847.html



U.S. Sen. Robert Stafford, R-Vt. is seen in Montpelier, Vt. in this Feb. 10, 1987 photo. Stafford, a staunch environmentalist and champion of education whose name is familiar to countless college students through a loan program named for him, died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006. He was 93. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

[JohnLocke]

1. Good man.

Rest in peace.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. One of the last of the good decent Republicans

may he rest in peace.

[cali]

4. It make me

quite sad to know that people like Stafford no longer have a home in the Republican party.

[cali]

3. Once upon a time

though there may not have been many of Senator Stafford's caliber, republicans in the mold of Stafford, weren't rare. Stafford, Jeffords, Prouty, Aiken, were all Vt Senators who were honorable men, and there were many others from other states. People like that are no longer in the republican party. Lincoln Chafee was truly the last.

Rest in peace Senator Stafford. These old, worn green mountains will welcome you, and Vermonters will long remember your service.

[Gormy Cuss]

7. There was a breed of Yankee Republicans -- solid, honorable people.

Maine's Margaret Chase Smith was another one.

[cali]

5. kick

I want to kick this thread because I imagine not too many folks know who Senator Stafford was, and because it reminds me of a time when I could admire some republicans- and even vote for them.

[Kadie]

6. Thanks for starting the other thread cali

:hi:

and I will give this thread one more

:kick:

[jarab]

8. kick!

...O...

[newyawker99]

9. Rest in peace Senator Stafford.