Political Quotes

“Madam President, today, the Senate will finally have an up-or-down vote on the nomination of Patricia Smith to be Solicitor General for the Department of Labor. Earlier this week the Senate voted to invoke cloture and end the 15th filibuster of President Obama's nominations to fill important posts in the executive branch and the judiciary. That number does not include the many others who have been denied up or down votes in the Senate by the anonymous obstruction of Republicans refusing to agree to time agreements to consider even noncontroversial nominees. Every single Republican Senator who voted on Monday voted against cloture and to keep filibustering this well-qualified nominee. Every single Republican voted to obstruct the Senate from doing the business of the American people. Wasn't it just a few years ago that Republicans were demanding up or down votes for nominees, and contending that filibusters of nominations were unconstitutional? Not a single Republican voted for cloture and to stop the filibuster of this nomination. The obstruction and delay does not stop there. Since 60 Members of the Senate voted to invoke cloture and bring the debate to a close, Republican Senators have insisted on delaying the vote for several additional days. This afternoon, that up-or-down vote finally takes place.…”