Chuck Schumer

I applaud Senators Wyden and Grassley for their sustained commitment over more than 10 years to this issue.

This was a great hearing. My only wish is that every one of our colleagues could have witnessed it...

Senator Bennet's resolution is also extremely interesting, and he has worked long and hard on this issue for much of the time since he has been here.

I think the committees should look at their nominees and then make a concerted effort to reduce the number.

It does not welcome talented people to public service; it repels them.

Despite the easing of the logjam yesterday, what we have seen overall in this Congress is the worst obstruction of presidential nominations in recent memory.

Do you think that is possible in this day and age, where the majority would say to the minority, we are going to ensure your right to offer several amendments?

I also congratulate Senator McCaskill for her energetic and now successful campaign in this Congress to break loose nominations that have gotten stuck.

I certainly favor some kind of a mixed package that, on the one hand, limits debate at least on some motions.

There is a need to fix the system and some areas where we can agree.

Our appointments process now undermines the very purposes it was designed to serve.

I indict both parties for this conduct. It is not just the Republican Party that is now in the Minority.

Obviously, if we had bipartisan consensus, we wouldn't have to debate whether we need 67, 60, or a majority.

The old idea that if you wanted to filibuster, you had to get on the floor and make a spectacle of yourself... had been replaced by a more subtle, silent filibuster.

The filibuster should not be used to frustrate the very purpose of the Senate procedures, to foster discussion.

I think the Constitution answers that question: a determined majority can change the rules.

The constitutional remedy was invoked by majority rule in 1975, and the compromise was adopted by a large bipartisan vote.

Many members of the Senate have said that this body is in crisis.

Senator Alexander, you know, calculated it would take us eight days to do four nominees, or four days to do eight nominees.

There is no former living Senator who can give us more insight into the evolution of the filibuster and the cloture rule than our first witness, who we are so honored to have, and that is former Vice President and former Senator Walter…

We will continue on the subject including getting to more specific proposals Senator Udall and others have those for future hearings.

It is not unconstitutional to create a barrier that is very hard to overcome.

It certainly is time for us to listen to Senator Harkin's thoughts about how to make this institution better.

The filibuster become the norm, not the exception.

Is this different than the moments with Bill Frist and the nuclear option?