Arlen Specter: “In conclusion, it is a very healthy situation in that we are now proceeding to take up these nominees individually. That…”

“In conclusion, it is a very healthy situation in that we are now proceeding to take up these nominees individually. That is something which I had sought to do since taking over the chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee. We have moved ahead now with three controversial nominees. It is my hope we will continue to take up these nominees, one at a time, and evaluate them on their merits. As I have said in a number of floor statements, we have reached the current confrontation because of a practice which goes back almost 20 years, starting with the last 2 years of the Reagan administration and continuing with 4 years of President Bush, and when the Democrats took control of the Senate and the Judiciary Committee, they stopped the processing of judges and slowed it down. Then when we Republicans won the election in 1994, for the last 6 years of the Clinton administration we slowed down the process and tied up some 70 judges in committee, a practice that I objected to at the time, and supported Judge Paez and Judge Berzon and others. Then the controversy was ratcheted up with the unprecedented systematic filibustering of judges, and then the unprecedented move by President Bush in the interim appointment, after the Senate rejected a judge, albeit by the route of not getting cloture. My time has expired, and I note the presence of the distinguished Democratic leader, so I yield the floor in midsentence, Mr. President. Exhibit 1 Senator Specter.…”