Democrat Obstruction Continues on President’s Uncontroversial, Impressive Nominees
‘Now, my colleagues need no reminder of Senate Democrats’ historic obstruction of nominations over the past two years. Under this administration, 135 nominations have required a cloture vote, and five times more were required during the first two years than in the same period of the last six administrations combined.’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding the need to confirm more of the president’s well-qualified nominees and historic obstruction from Senate Democrats:
“Already this week the Senate has confirmed two more well-qualified judicial nominees. Soon, Allison Rushing and Chad Readler will take their respective seats on the 4th and 6th Circuit Courts of Appeals. And later today, the Senate will vote on confirmation of Eric Murphy to the 6th Circuit. Together, these nominees bring decades of legal experience, prestigious clerkships, and the recognition of their peers. They will be charged with upholding the Constitution and the rule of law, and each is well-equipped to do exactly that.
“Now, my colleagues need no reminder of Senate Democrats’ historic obstruction of nominations over the past two years. Under this administration, 135 nominations have required a cloture vote, and five times more were required during the first two years than in the same period of the last six administrations combined. The final nomination we’ll consider this week captures this perfectly. John Fleming was nominated by the president to serve as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development on June 20th of last year. Mr. Fleming has an impressive record. When the Environment and Public Works Committee first considered his nomination last summer, a significant bipartisan majority voted to favorably report his nomination.
“But partisan obstruction ran out the clock. The nomination was sent back to the president. So earlier this year, Mr. Fleming was resubmitted, returned to the same committee, and was favorably reported by the same bipartisan margin. But the obstruction still wasn’t done. Here on the floor, I had to file cloture to ensure he’d get a vote. I’m pleased that cloture could be withdrawn yesterday and we’ll be able to vote on his confirmation today -- just as happened last week another nomination. But I’m sorry these cloture filings and wasted time were needed for these uncontroversial and impressive nominees. I’m sorry the case studies of pointless obstruction keep rolling in.”
Related Issues: Judicial Nominations, Energy, Senate Democrats, Nominations
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