Don Nickles: “I have been here a little while, and I cannot remember anybody objecting to moving to an appropriations bill because…”

“I have been here a little while, and I cannot remember anybody objecting to moving to an appropriations bill because they did not get a judge confirmed. I will give one example. I remember we had a judge in Oklahoma that I was trying to get confirmed in 1992 and the Democrats were in control of the Senate. George Mitchell was the majority leader. I kept trying to get the judge moved, the nomination moved. The nominee was Frank Keating. There was no opponent, but we kept having a hold. To make the story short, we never could get his nomination placed before the Senate. He would have been an outstanding judge. There was kind of a roving hold on it, primarily inspired by my good friend and colleague from Ohio, Senator Metzenbaum, who is no longer with us. The point being, we had an outstanding person, but we did not hold up any appropriations bill. We did fuss about it, and we groaned about it, and maybe griped about it, but I want to thank Senator Metzenbaum for putting a hold on Frank Keating because he is now the Governor of Oklahoma. Judges have been held for different reasons, maybe good reasons, maybe bad reasons, but a lot of times it happens. However, I am not familiar with the holding of major pieces of legislation, particularly appropriations bills, hostage. I hope we are able to work through this and do our bills. We know we have to do the appropriations bills, and I am hopeful we will be able to move forward.”