Al Franken

Senator Al Franken in 2009.

Alan Stuart "Al" Franken (born May 21, 1951) is the junior United States Senator from Minnesota. He is a member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, which affiliates with the national Democratic Party. Franken achieved note as a writer and performer for the television show Saturday Night Live from its conception in 1975 before moving to writing and acting in films and television shows. He then became a political commentator, author of five books and host of a nationally syndicated radio show on the Air America Radio network.

Quotes

If you control the flow of information, you can control the conversation around important issues. If you can control the conversation, you can change this country.
- Senator Al Franken (June 17, 2012). "Sen. Franken's Speech to the Eighth Annual American Constitution Society National Convention". Franken.senate.gov (United States Senate). Retrieved on March 17, 2012.

Net neutrality is the First Amendment issue of our time. Today, a blog can load as fast as the Wall Street Journal — and, if the blog is good, it can get more traffic than any media conglomerate. But if bigger companies can pay for faster, priority Internet access, that blogger no longer has a shot. And these big companies know that when they pay for access, they win. They want preferred treatment on the Internet like the preferred treatment they get in the rest of their lives.
- Senator Al Franken (August 19, 2010). "Sen. Franken's Speech to Free Press Group in Minneapolis". Franken.senate.gov (United States Senate). Retrieved on March 17, 2012.

I've said that net neutrality is the most important free speech issue of our time. It's true. If Republicans have their way, large corporations won't just have the loudest voices in the room. They'll be able to effectively silence everyone else. Every small business they'd prefer not to compete with. Every blogger who publishes something they don't like. We have to stop them.
- Senator Al Franken (November 8, 2011). "Net Neutrality Is Under Attack... Again". The Huffington Post. Retrieved on March 17, 2012.

The crash of 2008 was driven in no small part by unfair practices in the mortgage industry, which led to many consumers becoming trapped in loans they didn’t understand and couldn’t afford.
- Senator Al Franken (December 7, 2011). "Sen. Franken Speaks on Senate Floor in Support of Richard Cordray to Head Consumer Financial Protection Bureau". 2011 Congressional Record, Vol. 157, Pg. S8404 www.gpo.gov, see also www.franken.senate.gov. Retrieved on March 17, 2011.

Our laws need to reflect the evolution of technology and the changing expectations of American society. This is why the Constitution is often called a “living” document. But we have a long way to go to get our modern privacy laws in line with modern technology.
- Sen. Al Franken (March 2, 2012). "Privacy and Civil Liberties in the Digital Age". Wired magazine (www.wired.com). Retrieved on March 17, 2012.

The election process and recount in Minnesota have lived up to the state's reputation for organization, transparency, and bipartisanship. The officials have been meticulous and every ruling has been unanimous. While Senator Amy Klobuchar is one of the hardest working members of the United States Senate, Minnesotans deserve their full representation. Once the Minnesota Supreme Court has issued its final ruling in this case, the President and I look forward to working with Mr. Franken on building an economy for the 21st century.
- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. (May 6, 2009). Vice President Biden Issues Statement Following Meeting with Al Franken. The White House. Office of the Vice President.

I look forward to working with Senator-elect Franken to build a new foundation for growth and prosperity by lowering health care costs and investing in the kind of clean energy jobs and industries that will help America lead in the 21st century.
- U.S. President Barack Obama. (June 30, 2009). Statement on Senator-Elect Al Franken's Certification as Winner of the 2008 Minnesota Senatorial Race. The White House.

Al Franken is ready for this job. It is time to get to work, and, Al Franken, there is a desk waiting for you in the Senate.
- U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar. (July 7, 2009) Senator-Elect Al Franken. 2009 Congressional Record, Vol. 155, Pg. S7167 www.gpo.gov.