On the recordSeptember 27, 2016
this Republican Senate that had such promise, according to the Republicans, has been a flop. The Senate hasn't kept its word to the Nation. When Republicans assumed the majority in the Senate, the Republican leader made grand promises to the American people. He pledged bipartisanship. He promised to bring an end to the Senate's dysfunction, which he spearheaded. As I mentioned this morning on the floor, how many filibusters Lyndon Johnson overcame in his 6 years as a majority leader is debatable-- there was one for sure and maybe two--but it is easy to figure out as far as when I was majority leader for 8 years. There were 644 Republican filibusters. The Republican leader pledged that the Senate would do its work. For all his lofty rhetoric, the Republican leader has failed to fill his promises time and time again. There is no better example than the Senate Republicans' refusal to consider the nomination of Merrick Garland to be a member of the U.S. Supreme Court. Chief Judge Merrick Garland was nominated by President Obama 195 days ago. For 195 days, Republicans have blocked this good man from getting a hearing or a vote in spite of the fact that Merrick Garland is extremely qualified. Some ask, why wouldn't they hold a hearing? It is obvious. Merrick Garland would show the American people what kind of a man he is, what kind of a judge he would be, and it would be very hard for the Republicans to vote against him.…





