On the recordFebruary 13, 2012
Madam President, I rise because I want to point out to the people of this country who may be watching this proceeding that what has happened tonight on the Senate floor is just ridiculous. Senator Bill Nelson--I think he was restrained, frankly. I know him. He is a very close friend--was restrained in his comments. One Senator is stopping us from being able to ensure that justice is done, getting a great judge on the bench. It is sad. It is a historic nominee. It is a bipartisan situation with Senators Nelson and Rubio together, but it goes beyond this. In addition to holding up the Senate and wasting time here--because we can't vote on the judge now; we have to wait until hours and hours go by--what happens after? We are supposed to be on a highway bill, a bill that will protect 1.8 million jobs and create an additional million jobs. Mr. President, 2.8 million jobs are hanging in the balance. We have obstruction from my friends on the Republican side--and they are my friends. I don't know what they are doing. I don't know whom they think they are helping, but it is not the American people. Whether it is standing in the way of this judge or whether it is stopping this highway bill, they are hurting America. I want to tell them to wake up and smell the roses--we are trying to get out of this recession. This is a jobs bill that is just waiting to happen. We have myself and Senator Inhofe as partners in this effort.…





