Political Quotes

“I am taking this time on the floor to speak in support of the nomination of Caitlin Halligan to be U.S. Circuit judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. I think my comments are at the right time, following Senator Alexander's comments about the difficulty we have had in the past confirming judicial nominees and the use of the filibuster that blocked the consideration of Presidential nominees. Senator Alexander pointed with pride to an accommodation that was reached a few years ago, before I got to the Senate, that the filibuster would only be used in ``extraordinary circumstances.'' Ms. Halligan was first nominated by President Obama in September 2010, after that accommodation had been reached. I am disappointed that her nomination was filibustered, nearly on a party-line vote, in December of 2011. I urge my colleagues to allow an up-or-down vote on Ms. Halligan's nomination. I would challenge my colleagues who oppose an up-or-down vote to come to the floor and explain the extraordinary circumstances that would prevent an up-or-down vote on Ms. Halligan's nomination. She is extremely well qualified for this position, and I will support her nomination. The Senate Judiciary Committee favorably reported her nomination last month. The American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary unanimously rated Ms.…”