Thomas Daschle: “As of this day, March 26, I answer the Senator from Nevada, we have approved 173 judges and 419 nonjudicial nominations…”

“As of this day, March 26, I answer the Senator from Nevada, we have approved 173 judges and 419 nonjudicial nominations by this administration. I don't know whether the nontraditional nominations is some kind of record over 3 years, but we now know the judicial record of 173 has not been equaled. So the answer is yes, we have cooperated as fully as any Congress has in accommodating an administration with regard to appointments it considers to be of value to the country. We are only asking for similar consideration of the nominations and a recognition of the importance of the constitutional process of advise and consent, which is why I expressed the concern this morning about the recess appointments of those judges who have not been confirmed in the Senate.”