Rick Allen: “I rise to speak on this matter of judges. I was presiding the last hour and a half or so listening to some of my…”

“I rise to speak on this matter of judges. I was presiding the last hour and a half or so listening to some of my colleagues speak. I associate myself with the remarks of the Senator from Ohio. But I was listening to my colleagues from New Jersey and Illinois, Senator Corzine and Senator Durbin. I heard the Senator from New Jersey talking about the rights of minorities. The Senate does care about the rights of the minority. When one talks about the rights of the minority, one normally talks about ways to enhance civil rights, to make sure there is equal opportunity--that there is due process of law. Sadly, the Democrats have changed the rules. They changed 214 years of practice, which was that when a President nominated a particular person for a judicial vacancy, the Judiciary Committee would examine that individual very closely, as to their scholarship, their temperament, their judicial philosophy, and ultimately if they passed muster, that person would come to the Senate floor. Senators, for 214 years, would vote to confirm or deny confirmation to that particular nominee. That changed just 3 years ago. What is being suggested by Senator Corzine and others on the other side is that a minority of only 41 Senators should be able to deny a well-qualified nominee the fairness and the due process of an up-or- down vote on the Senate floor. These individuals are well qualified, but they are denied the opportunity of an up-or-down vote.…”