Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on the Senate Republicans to give a full and fair hearing and vote to confirm President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Merrick Garland. There is critical business before the Supreme Court this term. Our democracy relies on a full and functioning Supreme Court. It has been more than a month since President Obama announced his nominee, and Republican leadership has refused to move forward with the confirmation process. Judge Garland is an experienced and respected jurist with a long history of service to our Nation. He has more experience as a Federal judge than any nominee in history, but Republican leaders have decided they won't hold a hearing to consider Judge Garland's nomination. Instead of doing their jobs, Republicans are playing political games and leaving our Nation's highest court in limbo. This kind of obstructionism is unprecedented. Since the 1980s, every person appointed to the Supreme Court has been given a prompt hearing and a vote within 100 days. There are 276 days until the next President takes office--plenty of time to consider Judge Garland's nomination. The Constitution gives the President the responsibility to nominate Justices to the Supreme Court and gives the Senate the job of considering that nominee. There are no exceptions for election year. Never before in American history has a Senate majority said they refuse to consider or vote on anyone nominated by the current President.…”