Chuck Schumer: “Idaho. My family and I have traveled through there, and it is a beautiful part of America. We go hiking out there every…”

“Idaho. My family and I have traveled through there, and it is a beautiful part of America. We go hiking out there every summer, although I am sure my friend from Montana would think not enough of the West has rubbed off on me yet, but we are trying. But in any case, that prospective nominee should not answer. But if you ask a prospective nominee his views or her views on: What are your general views on how much leeway the Federal Government has versus the State governments on how logging should be done or how the environment should be regulated? I would argue to my colleague from Montana that is exactly what we should be asking the nominee, and that is exactly what they should be answering. Let me read you a quote from your leader on the Judiciary Committee. He said, on February 18, 1997, before the University of Utah Federalist Society: Determining which of President Clinton's nominees will become activists is complicated and it will require the Senate to be more diligent and extensive in its questioning of nominees' jurisprudential views. That is exactly what we are saying. He was asked by Senator Feinstein his views on Roe v. Wade. Now, I do not believe in a litmus test, and I would say, of the 99 or so judges I voted for, who were nominated by President Bush, most of them disagree with my view on choice, but I voted for them because they were mainstream conservatives. They were mainstream.”