Political Quotes

“I am pleased to join Senator Blumenthal on the floor this afternoon as a cosponsor of his resolution. I share his concerns that Merrick Garland has not yet gotten a hearing nor a vote in this body on his nomination to be on the Supreme Court of the United States. Since the beginning of our Nation, the U.S. Senate has respected an important, bipartisan tradition of giving timely and fair consideration to Supreme Court nominees, even during the years when there is a Presidential election. Sadly, this year the majority party has broken that tradition by refusing even to hold a hearing on the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to serve as a Justice. The current vacancy was created more than 200 days ago. President Obama nominated Judge Garland more than 7 months ago. I am joining my colleagues on the floor this afternoon to urge the majority party and the leadership of this body to give Judge Garland a hearing, to give him a vote. It is time to extend to Judge Garland the same fair treatment the Senate has given to every other person previously nominated to the Supreme Court by an elected President during a Presidential election year. The majority party's refusal, to date, to consider the nomination of Judge Garland is a shocking break with Senate tradition. Article II, section 2 of the Constitution is unambiguous about the respective duties and responsibilities of the President and the Senate when there is a Supreme Court vacancy.…”