Bingaman lauded by Udall, top GOP colleagues

Former Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) was a longtime colleague, and served as the Energy Committee’s chairman and, later, ranking member when Republicans lost the Senate majority.

“It was a privilege to serve with my friend Jeff Bingaman in the Senate for almost three decades,” Domenici said in a statement Friday.

Domenici, now a senior fellow with the Bipartisan Policy Center, added:

“The people of New Mexico have never had a more dedicated and thoughtful public servant. Sen. Bingaman and I worked side by side and across the aisle together on many major pieces of legislation. I am especially grateful for his leadership on the 2005 and 2007 energy bills, which were models of bipartisan cooperation and effective legislating for the good of the country. I am confident that Sen. Bingaman will continue this tradition in his remaining time in the Senate. I wish him and his family the very best.”  

And Bingaman’s current New Mexico colleague, Sen. Tom Udall (D), had this to say:

“Jeff has never been one to promote himself, but his accomplishments are too great to list. He has been a national leader in pushing for a 21st-century energy policy; he is an expert in the healthcare arena; and he is a champion in the effort to protect our environment and conserve our special public places in New Mexico and across the country for generations to come.”

This post was updated at 3:56 p.m.