Controversial Opposition To 9-11 Airline Bailout
Fitzgerald had two major moments in the spotlight in the Senate, the first in 2000 when he filibustered a massive federal spending bill because it included funds for the Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield. He did it to bring to light the Republican-controlled Illinois state government's failure to promise competitive bidding for the project.
His second major moment was following the September 11, 2001 attacks, when Congress quickly passed a massive bailout measure for most of the major airlines, which were in trouble financially. Standing alone out of all members of the U.S. Senate, Fitzgerald delivered a speech entitled "Who will bail out the American taxpayer," arguing that the airlines would simply go through the money and remain financially unstable. The bill passed 99 to 1.
Citing problems dealing with the state party leadership and family issues, Fitzgerald retired from the Senate at the end of his first and only term. He was succeeded by Barack Obama, who went on to be elected President of the United States.
Read more about this topic: Peter Fitzgerald (politician)
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