BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- Outgoing U.S. Sen. Kent Conrad says he has noticed a change in the Senate during his 26-year tenure.
The North Dakota Democrat says senators spend too much time playing partisan politics and too little time solving the problems facing the country.
The Senate Budget Committee chairman gave his farewell speech on the Senate floor Wednesday. He spent part of the time thanking family, staff, colleagues and voters, and part of the time talking about reaching a bipartisan budget agreement.
The 64-year-old Conrad first ran for the Senate in 1986, narrowly defeating Republican incumbent Mark Andrews in a political upset. Conrad announced in January 2011 that he would not seek re-election. He has not announced his future plans.
He's being replaced in the Senate by Democrat Heidi Heitkamp.
