Modest Reform Helping Bipartisan Nominees Get Through Senate at an Efficient Pace
‘Remember, earlier this spring, we put in place a modest reform to Senate rules so we could consider these uncontroversial, lower-level nominations at a more reasonable pace. That had been the Senate’s normal tradition until very recently, and we restored it.’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding the need to confirm more of the president’s well-qualified nominees:
“This week, the Senate has been remarkably productive in confirming more of the president’s well-qualified nominees. We’ve confirmed nine newly-minted judges to fill vacancies on the federal bench. Today, we’ll turn to the executive branch and confirm David Stillwell to serve as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and Edward Crawford to serve as Ambassador to Ireland.
“Remember, earlier this spring, we put in place a modest reform to Senate rules so we could consider these uncontroversial, lower-level nominations at a more reasonable pace. That had been the Senate’s normal tradition until very recently, and we restored it. At the time, I recall my friends across the aisle insisting that the majority would use these more efficient procedures to push through all kinds of polarizing and controversial people.
“Well, here are a few of the roll call votes the Senate has taken on nominations this week: 91 to 5. 62 to 34. 77 to 19. 85 to 11. And yesterday afternoon, on a procedural vote for Mr. Stilwell, 93 to 4. Virtually all of us can remember a time when nominations of this sort would have passed the Senate by voice vote. These days, Democrats are making us file cloture and spend floor time on each. But at least our new Senate rules are helping us get these thoroughly bipartisan nominees through at a more efficient pace.”
Related Issues: Judicial Nominations, Nominations
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