Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I heard the remarks of the distinguished Senator from New York, and, obviously, I agree and I guess I would like to add my 2 cents to the arguments presented. I am a 19-year member of the Judiciary Committee, so I have had a front-row seat for judicial nominations for a long time. Over 800 judges have been confirmed since I came to the Senate. Now, it was not so long ago that liberals and conservatives could easily win confirmation as long as they were well qualified, fair- minded, and had judicial temperament. They were confirmed. It may even surprise some that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was confirmed by a vote of 96 to 3, and Justice Antonin Scalia was confirmed 98 to 0. That was a different time. Today partisanship has stalled even the most uncontroversial judicial appointments. Senate Republicans allowed no nominees to be confirmed at the end of the last session and have allowed only five so far this year. In this environment even those reported out of committee by voice vote without any controversy are unable to receive a floor vote for many months if they ever receive one at all. Let me give a recent example, a judge I recommended to the President. Judge Cathy Bencivengo's nomination to the Southern District of California was approved by the Judiciary Committee by voice vote. Yet she waited 4 months for a floor vote. Then she was ultimately confirmed 90 to 6, showing that there simply was no need to hold up the nomination in the first place.…”