On the recordFebruary 9, 2010
I will just take a couple of more minutes. While I welcome a vote that will establish confidence in Judge Greenaway's ability to serve our country, today's vote comes 4 months after his nomination came to the floor of the U.S. Senate because of unnecessary and unreasonable delays. Not one of my Republican colleagues has voiced a single objection to Judge Greenaway along the way or a single reason for this delay. Judge Greenaway and the people of New Jersey are not alone in falling victim to this obstruction. Republican obstructionism last year led to the lowest number of judicial confirmations in more than 50 years. Justice has been delayed while those who refused to let this vote take place had another agenda--purely to score political points. It is shameful and the American people show discouragement. I hope today's vote signals a break in the profuse presence of obstructionism and will permit us to do our work for the American people in a more timely fashion. If they have objections based on character or ability, tell the American people that. Don't hide behind a cloak of procedure. The ABA found Judge Greenaway unanimously well-qualified and the Senate Judiciary Committee was unanimous in supporting this nomination. Today, I urge all my colleagues to once again unanimously support the confirmation of this brilliant legal scholar, Judge Joseph Greenaway, to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
