Jon S. Corzine: “I come to the floor to speak briefly about the compromise agreement reached on judicial nominees and about the pending…”

“I come to the floor to speak briefly about the compromise agreement reached on judicial nominees and about the pending circuit court nominees. Let me begin by saying that I am pleased that, through the agreement reached this week, we were able to protect the rights of the minority in this body to have our voices heard. That is consistent with the best traditions of the Senate. I certainly believe it is consistent with the constitutional principle that gave each State two Senators, regardless of their number of citizens. So, for example, California has 36 million people and Wyoming has a little more than 500,000 citizens. But our forefathers saw to it, in an effort to protect the rights of the minority, that each State would have two Senators to represent their interests. I also believe that the agreement, at least at this time and place, preserves our constitutional system of checks and balances. So I compliment my 14 colleagues who reached this agreement and, in so doing, protected two of the most essential principles of American government--the rights of the minority and our system of checks and balances. Let me also say that I am particularly proud of Senator Reid's leadership in pushing towards this compromise. That said, my enthusiasm for this compromise is tempered by the reality that I see before us. For while I am cautiously optimistic about the immediate outcome, I am aware that, like in so many things, the devil is in the details.…”