Arlen Specter: “I begin by thanking my distinguished colleague from Alabama for his cogent, timely comments about the need to process…”

“I begin by thanking my distinguished colleague from Alabama for his cogent, timely comments about the need to process the confirmation of judges. Republicans have reserved time in our period for morning business to speak to this issue in order to acquaint the American people with the importance of proceeding with the confirmation of Federal judges. The process has been slowed down very materially during the final two years of Presidential terms when the White House is controlled by one party and the Senate the other, as the White House is now controlled by Republicans and the Senate by Democrats. As I have said on the Senate floor, this is a problem that has been going on for the past two decades. In the last two years of President Reagan's administration, there was a slowdown when Democrats were in charge of the Senate. The slowdown continued during the term of President Bush, the 41st President. Then, Republicans retaliated during the term of President Clinton by slowing down the process. We have had very major disputes--I would even call them bitter disputes.”