The Public Record
Arlen Specter was a prominent American politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania for 30 years, from 1981 to 2011. Originally a member of the Republican Party, he switched to the Democratic Party in 2009. During his tenure, Specter was known for his moderate positions and played a key role in various significant legislative efforts, including judicial nominations and health care reform. He was involved in high-profile hearings, including those related to the 9/11 attacks and the confirmation of Supreme Court justices.
This is a very polarized country when it comes to the issues which will come to the Supreme Court of the United States. And I would expect people to want their choice. And everybody can't have their own way. That's why we have a president…
I was frankly concerned about the idea of 12 United States senators doing the job that should be done by 100, of selecting which judges get through and which don't.
That would be acceptable to me. I am the manager, in my capacity as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, on Priscilla Owen. We would accommodate to have an equal amount of time allotted to the Democrats. It may be, Mr. President, that I…
I thank the floor schedulers for reserving time for me this morning. I had hoped to be here at 11:15, but I have been chairing an executive business meeting of the Judiciary Committee where we voted on the nominations of Justice Owen and…
92--or approximately 60 percent--of those 155 requests were granted under the broad justification that notice would have the result of 'seriously jeopardizing an investigation.'
I will be filing legislation to correct this, and I will be looking forward to the opportunity for a hearing in the Finance Committee. And I think other Senators will be joining me as well. I understand the reasons we cannot have it in…
I would have voted for the Kennedy amendment... my preference would have been the Kennedy amendment because it raised the minimum wage more... I commend Senator Kennedy for his continuing efforts on the minimum wage... The last time…
I told him I thought it was a good idea, but I was constrained to vote against it because we have an understanding--implicit or explicit, I am not quite sure which because I was not party to it--with the House of Representatives that if we…
I support class action reform. I do so essentially to prevent judge shopping to States and even counties where courts and judges have a prejudicial predisposition on cases.
The concept of unintended consequences is not an unusual argument. It can be attenuated in many directions. My submission to this body is that the amendment is plain on its face, that it seeks to create a national intelligence director who…
I regret the Senator from Virginia is at a loss, but that doesn't affect the plain language of the amendment and the fact that it doesn't disturb the responsibilities under the section cited by the Senator from Virginia.
The question is, what is the best way to reorganize the national intelligence community? ... I believe it is a fair statement to say that the 9/11 Commission would be pleased to see us move to establish a national intelligence director…
We have to get it right. These are complicated matters. We have been studying them for a very long time. We have been studying them, to my personal knowledge, going back to 1987 in legislation I introduced, and again in 1996, and with the…
Would you provide the subcommittee with the written materials which show the cost savings?
Mr. Rule, we'd be interested if you would provide, in a written response, the amplification of the comment you made that your program is cost effective--saves money, doesn't cost money.
You know, this is exactly the kind of program that we need--this one and ones like it--to save money and to make the American people healthier in a way that's not going to involve cutting services, but, rather, empowering people with…
Dr. Gladish, that's a fine theoretical answer. Now, time is almost up, so I'm going to yield to Senator Harkin.
Senator Specter. Dr. Gladish, could you devise a program which would be directed to Philadelphia cheesesteaks?
Senator Specter--who has long-championed community health promotion programs--and Senator Harkin--who recently introduced YMCA-endorsed legislation that contains many excellent provisions aimed at strengthening community-based health…
I thank you for holding this hearing and I look forward to our continued work together.
Politicians like Arlen Specter
