Thomas Daschle: “I listened carefully to the words of the distinguished majority leader and certainly understand his decision to file…”

“I listened carefully to the words of the distinguished majority leader and certainly understand his decision to file cloture. Many of us had anticipated a cloture motion would be filed. We are more than ready to have one or more votes when and if they are scheduled. Those votes, of course, would not be necessary were the information we requested from the beginning provided. We have simply asked that Mr. Estrada fill out his application for this lifetime employment, as every other one of his predecessors has, providing information about his record, providing information about his position, providing information in ways that will allow Senators a far better appreciation of the vote they are taking on this important matter prior to the time he begins serving on the second highest court in the land. We welcome the vote. As I said, we will welcome subsequent votes if they are filed. We believe the constitutional obligation we have as Senators requires we demand the same degree of compliance to the rules, the same degree of willingness to cooperate that all those who have served in the past and have provided that information have been willing to provide in their cases, as well.”