Barbara Boxer: “There is a note from Senator Hatch when he was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee during the Clinton administration…”

“There is a note from Senator Hatch when he was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee during the Clinton administration, which I would like to read. The blue slip we used to receive from Senator Hatch said: ``Please return this form as soon as possible . . . No further proceedings on this nominee will be scheduled until both blue slips''-- that means from each Senator--``have been returned by the nominee's home State Senators.'' That is what we all used to receive from Chairman Hatch. That was his former policy. Then all of a sudden it changed when the President changed. So on process, this was a nomination that should not be before us. Then the bar kept being raised. Senator Feinstein said, let's have a hearing on this nominee and let me see whether I think she ought to move forward. Senator Feinstein listened, asked deep questions, pondered, and then said, no. And she will express for herself why she said no. So we have two home State Senators against this nomination. What happens? The nominee is coming to the floor for a vote. We have not even debated it or discussed it. I wanted to apologize to my friend from Montana, because I know he is talking on another subject, but this is crucial. I predict this Senate will not give the go-ahead to this nominee and I want to make the record clear as to why.…”