and finally, i leave the best to last, the "duluth news tribune," duluth, minnesota, may 18, 2009: "ideas to bolster economic recovery without plunging the nation any deeper into debt would be welcome by taxpayers from coast to coast." that is what we're talking about here, and i know firsthand how important it is, tourism, for the city of duluth t. had some very difficult economic times in the 1970's and 1980's. at one point it was so bad that there was a bill board that someone put up outside duluth said, "the last one to leave, please turn off the lights." that's what they were dealing w. and they bolstered their economy through tourism. i was just up there, we did a field hearing in there. they've actually seen an increase in their convention and business travel this year. maybe > a few people are going o places like duluth, for businesses that are cutting back a little. but the important part of this is that you have one town just like so many across the country that ha have benefited from tourism. this is what we're talking about across the country. and one might wonder, why didn't

i've never beened to duluth. i have been to minneapolis a few times but i never had the opportunity to see the land of 1,000 lakes. ms. klobuchar: of 10,000 lakes. nevada in nevada we don't have five lakes. okay? but, i would love to come and spend some time in minnesota. it's a wonderful tourist destination. in the winter as cold as it is, a lot of great things to do. and in the summer. and as senator dorgan mentioned, we should be promoted our country. so that people like you may have had a father-in-law from duluth or minneapolis or wherever could go visit and have a good time being a tourist. and it is the same in nevada. as i mentioned, new hampshire, illinois. every state in the union is heavily dependent on tourism and the republicans don't seem to much care. this bill is probably finished for the year. and that means 40,000 less jobs. it means this country will go in the red more for not having things -- to stimulating economy and provide money like this. so i just appreciate very much the subcommittee an

and whether it's centers of fun and entertainment, like las vegas or disney world or duluth. from the heartland to the coast, every state has an economic stake in the tourism industry, which is now a major part of the american economy. throughout the united states, many communities have discovered and developed economic potential. i keep using the example of duluth because at some point in the 1970's, the economy was so bad there, they actual had a billboard so that when you drove out of town, it said, "the last one to leave, please turn off the lights." well, that billbored isn't there anymore, as -- billbored isn't there anymore, as tourism is a beautiful part of their economy, with beautiful lake superior, beautiful museums and aquarium, children's museum and it's really changed the life of that town. tourism creates good jobs that can't be outsourced. one out of every eight americans is employed in our travel economy. each year, travel and tourism contribute approximately $1.3 trillion to the american economy and international visitors, as senator dorgan just noted, spend

it would be a long time before you find a bbc stringer in duluth. it is more fitting.e of the simplistic cowboy politics, american militarism, religion gets up my nose when it is described as evangelical right, and intensely important and noble part of american history, i speak as someone, rather -- jefferson, by the way, how many of you think of jefferson as an easy question? there will be an exam. i hope they told you that before they let you out. how many of you think jefferson believed jesus was the son of god? you are so clever. i gave you that so you could all feel good about yourself. he wrote on a platform, betsy, a bottle of burgundy, john adams, john adams, was his own lee atwater. what was his slogan in the election of 1800, it feels like just yesterday. what was the most damning slogan against jefferson? come on,s. who said god bless? you get half a bottle. it was the elections, adams ran on god or jefferson, or no god. jefferson did believe -- she was not a materialist, he was equally -- it was observed, the virgin birth, give me a break already. he denied