Pete Sessions

I guess what I want to ask the Senator is that in this way we operate with punitive damages, is not the real truth that when two doctors get hit with big verdicts that the premiums from all the innocent doctors in Nevada go up? It is not…

I will comment to the distinguished Senator from Nevada about Senator Harkin's passionate advocacy for the disabled in America. He cares deeply about that issue and there is no one more eloquent on it than he is. I ask the Senator from…

Mr. Speaker, we are talking about bankruptcy today again. We have done this four times. This rule will pass because it is a fair rule. The underlying legislation will pass overwhelmingly because it is great legislation that the American…

I know the Senator is committed to whatever figure we have to do to fund the effort of our fine men and women in uniform. I was looking at the Democratic proposed stimulus plan, and it is pretty anemic. I ask Senator Conrad if he knew that…

We passed it as part of a stimulus package before. The bill that has been put forward as the Democrat stimulus plan calls for the elimination of those which would amount to a tax increase over the current law of $16.7 billion in 2004 and…

I understand that. I think the suggestion is our budget process has to stop until that occurs. And I think it is impossible for the President to give us a number now. I believe it does cause some confusion in our unity, which I would not…

Just to follow up, is it the view of the Senator that by eliminating the double taxation on dividends, this would encourage businesses to distribute dividends to shareholders and not hoard it and end up purchasing and consolidating their…

Does the Senator, based on his broad experience in affairs, conclude that this country has the unique history of being a genuinely religious country, but a country that knows how to handle different religions and faiths? As a matter of…

I think no one can doubt that. So we are frustrated also. I do believe we should have more collegiality in the committee, and I believe we can do better.

I will ask the Senator from Utah--I first would say how effective I think he has been tonight in indicating there are no reasons to oppose this nomination. I would note that the Mobile Register in my State has a fine editorial page, and…

But isn't it a fact that the hearing of Miguel Estrada was conducted when the Democrats were in control of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Leahy was the chairman, and they held the committee hearing as long as they chose and could have…

Is it a fact those memoranda belong to the U.S. Department of Justice and under the attorney-client rule they are not Miguel Estrada's and he has no ability whatsoever to produce these documents?

I did not dislike them personally, but I felt Paez and Berzon were activists. In fact, their writings clearly indicated that. Is it not a fact both Paez and Berzon, in separate opinions, have declared the longstanding 'three strikes you're…

Is it not a fact the Republican majority leader, Trent Lott, was the one who moved for cloture on Paez and Berzon?

With respect to the Paez and Berzon matters, I ask the chairman if he remembers I was one who questioned those nominees and he made a decision in both of those cases to support them after serious thought was given to it?

The point is there has been no movement from the other side to change the basic traditional view of the power of home State Senators to object. In fact, they affirm that and insist they should be given that, and even expand it.

I will ask the distinguished chairman of the Judiciary Committee, who has been involved in these matters for so many years, aren't we confusing here home State Senators' objections with a filibuster? And isn't it true that, to this very…

And that is what we have done. Is the Senator aware in his tenure in this Senate that we have ever had a filibuster maintained on a Federal judge?

The Constitution says: The President shall have the power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate and, with the advice and consent of…

The Constitution is right on advice and consent, and we can debate forever about that, what that means. Basically, it means what any Senators believe it means; is that right? They can vote on any basis they want?

I know the Senator is so knowledgeable about these matters. This is an appellate bench, which handles appellate matters. But isn't it true that Mr. Estrada was a law clerk for a Second Circuit Federal judge and a U.S. Supreme Court Justice?

They criticize Mr. Sutton for persuading the Supreme Court, like it is something bad. And I make a note that the Supreme Court ruled with him and agreed with his position. I just ask, Is there something wrong, is it disqualifying for an…

Somehow we have created a system of health care where it is not easy for physicians and health care professionals to choose to live in rural areas, and it has taken Government programs to meet the crisis need. I wish we could figure out a…

I had the pleasure a little over a year ago to travel to five different rural health clinics in Alabama, many of these in areas where minority citizens live, and was very pleased to have the chief Assistant Secretary of Health and Human…

I have visited 30 or more schools in my State in the last 3 years. I have talked to teachers and principals on a regular basis, and they express their frustration to me on this subject. As Senator Mikulski indicated, she is hearing that…