Thomas Daschle: “I want to speak briefly on a matter we will probably have the opportunity to discuss in greater detail at a later time.…”

“I want to speak briefly on a matter we will probably have the opportunity to discuss in greater detail at a later time. That has to do with the nomination of Bradley Smith to be a Commissioner on the Federal Election Commission. The President has made this nomination with the greatest reluctance. He delayed it for many months while fending off hard lobbying on behalf of Mr. Smith by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. In the end, the President forwarded this nomination to us, acknowledging the Republican leadership's strongly held view that, under standard practice for FEC appointments, each party is entitled to have the President nominate its choice for a Commission seat allocated by law to that party. I understand the President's decision. He did what he believes that he, as President, was required to do, notwithstanding his concerns about the suitability of Mr. Smith. Now we, as Senators, must do what we are required to do by the Constitution--to consider this nomination on the merits.”