Political Quotes

“Mr. President, moving forward with some individual nominees for President Obama to put in place people at the Department of Commerce, at the Health and Human Services Department, at the Treasury Department, at the State Department, and at the Energy Department--all very important government agencies. All President Obama wants is to have his team in place so they can start doing their work. But what we are seeing on the other side over and again is secret holds and delay. It is important to remind everybody that at this particular point in time 107 nominees of the executive branch are being held up. At this point in time in the past for President Bush, only 8 nominees were being held. So 107 are being held for President Obama, and for President Bush, there were only 8. You can only think and draw the conclusion that this is about preventing the President from getting his team in place, which is obviously a very important function. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session for the purpose of consideration of Calendar No. 640, Eric Hirschhorn, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for the Export Administration; that the nomination be confirmed; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that no further motions be in order, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and that any statements relating to the nominee be printed in the Record, as if read. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore.…”