On the recordFebruary 2, 2010
Mr. President, it is clear that Patricia Smith is eminently well qualified. She has been thoroughly vetted. We need a Solicitor at the Department of Labor. This nomination has been hanging here since last April. It is time to move on. But, again, the Republicans are exercising their right--although I think it is an abuse of that right--to drag it out for 30 more hours, to keep the Senate in session, for no purpose whatsoever other than to slow things down in this Chamber. To me, that is not a good enough excuse, when only one person came here today to speak against her, and that person spoke against her yesterday. I read the transcript. Nothing new; same stuff. I would hope we could collapse this timeframe and vote on it, but evidently the Republicans are intent on stretching this out to the maximum 30 hours. As I said, it may be their right, but I think it is an abuse of that right. Mr. President, I yield the floor and note the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
