Heidi Alexander: “It was signed in 2006 by all the Democratic members of the Judiciary Committee: Senator Leahy, Senator Feinstein…”

“It was signed in 2006 by all the Democratic members of the Judiciary Committee: Senator Leahy, Senator Feinstein, Senator Kennedy, Senator Biden, Senator Schumer, Senator Durbin, Senator Feingold, and Senator Kohl. These Senate Democrats said under no circumstances should we consider confirming a judge to the DC Circuit when it is so underworked. So the Republican President and the Democratic Senate agreed with that and reduced the Court's size by one judge--just the same argument being made today. No. 2, any suggestion that the President's nominations are being held up is completely wrong. I invited the Congressional Research Service into my office. I asked that question. They have said: No. President Obama's cabinet nominations in his second term are being considered at about the rate as those of President Clinton and President George W. Bush. On every Senator's desk is an Executive Calendar. Every person who could be confirmed by the Senate is on this calendar. There are about 11 pages. The one who has been on there the longest goes back to February and six were reported in the Summer. But all the rest of them go back just to September 12--just a few weeks. Most of them have been there just 3 or 4 weeks. So people are not being held up. The only way a nominee can be reported to the Senate floor is by a Democratic committee. The only person who can bring them from the calendar to be confirmed is the Democratic leader.…”