Arlen Specter: “I compliment our colleagues, Senator Grassley and Senator Wyden, for their initiative in moving to end the practice of a…”

“I compliment our colleagues, Senator Grassley and Senator Wyden, for their initiative in moving to end the practice of a hold. For those watching, if anyone, on C-SPAN2 at the moment, a hold is a Senate procedure which is secret, where the Senator says that matter may not move without notifying me. The final days of the session are sufficient to stop any action on an individual by a statement that there be insistence on debate, where there is no time for votes, or when we are not having them, as we have not had any for the past several days. I intend to join Senator Grassley and our Republican caucus to try to end this pernicious practice. It simply ought not to prevail in an open society and in an open setting. If someone has an objection to some individual or to some bill, I think it only right that the individual stand up and state the objection. I do thank my colleagues who had objected to Judge Massiah-Jackson for being forthright in discussing the matter with me, and I understand an honest difference of opinion. I respect that difference of opinion. I don't agree with it, but I do respect it, so long as you have an opportunity to discuss the matter, to find out what is happening and we can try to do something about it.”