Tom Udall: “I could not agree more with what Senator Merkley pointed out. There has been a lot of discussion-- especially as shown…”

“I could not agree more with what Senator Merkley pointed out. There has been a lot of discussion-- especially as shown on that chart the Senator talked about--that we have done this before. When the Senate hits a roadblock, we can come back to our majority powers and get through the roadblock and continue to do business, to do business as the Senate and do the business we were sent here to do. As the Senator noted, I remember I called for rules reform 4 years ago. I said the Senate was a graveyard for good ideas. I remember talking about that in my campaign and coming here, and I am sorry to say little has changed, that the digging continues. Americans are tired, I believe, with the gridlock and the dysfunction in Washington--filibusters, shutdowns, hyperpartisan attacks. Americans want reform in the way their government operates: more cooperation, more transparency, less partisanship, more problem solving. Monday's vote was one more example of why we need reform. Judge Robert Wilkins is well qualified to serve on the Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. He deserved an up-or-down vote. Instead, what did we get? Another filibuster. He is the fourth nominee to that court to be trampled on by the minority--not because he is unqualified, not because of any failing on his part, but because a Democratic President nominated him. For some that is enough, that is all it takes to tell an eminent American to go home.…”