Pete Sessions: “we have had a good 39 hours, I guess, of debate. It is great to see my friend from Texas here, Senator Cornyn, who…”

“we have had a good 39 hours, I guess, of debate. It is great to see my friend from Texas here, Senator Cornyn, who served on the Texas Supreme Court and understands these issues and chairs the constitutional law subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee. I say it is good because we have had a very bad and very historic change in the procedures of the Senate. After all this debate, I think it is doubtful anyone could maintain today that in previous years we did not have filibusters. And I don't think anyone could doubt that we now have sustained filibusters as an organized, systematic way to change the number of votes necessary to confirm a President's nomination from a majority of 51 to 60 votes. This is a big deal. It is not a good deal. It is not good for the Senate. It changes the historic balance of power. It enhances of power of the Senate. Now the Senate can block a nomination with only 40 votes. It weakens the President, and it weakens the courts. It is a classical alteration of the balance of power established by our Founders when this country was created. It is not good. It was driven by politics. It is a further decline in civility and debate, and it is a greater increase in the influence of politics in the confirmation process. This Senate is not and should not be proud of what has occurred to date. I am glad it was brought about with some pain. I am glad it just didn't slide in a banal way without any thought.”