Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Republican Leader McConnell Urges No Obstruction
In a press release and statement on the floor of the Senate yesterday, Republican Leader McConnell praised the nomination of Judge Mukasey as Attorney General and reminded Democrats of their duty to provide a timely confirmation hearing and vote. He responded to reports in Roll Call and a press release from Sen. Leahy indicating that Democrats intend to use the nomination to force the White House to submit documents subpoenaed in the Judiciary Committees investigations.
Sen. McConnell stated:
"So our Democratic colleagues have repeatedly told us that the central concern in all this was the health and well-being of the Justice Department. Yet now they say they’re willing to hold up the new attorney general in exchange for more documents related to their fishing expedition — which, so far, has been long on fisherman and short on fish....
We know the precedent. Since the Carter Administration, it has taken, on average, about three weeks from nomination to confirmation for a nominee for Attorney General. Some nominees have taken much less time. Benjamin Civiletti and Janet Reno, the second Attorney General nominees of Presidents Carter and Clinton, were confirmed in 12 and 13 days, respectively, after their nominations...
Sen. McConnell stated:
"So our Democratic colleagues have repeatedly told us that the central concern in all this was the health and well-being of the Justice Department. Yet now they say they’re willing to hold up the new attorney general in exchange for more documents related to their fishing expedition — which, so far, has been long on fisherman and short on fish....
We know the precedent. Since the Carter Administration, it has taken, on average, about three weeks from nomination to confirmation for a nominee for Attorney General. Some nominees have taken much less time. Benjamin Civiletti and Janet Reno, the second Attorney General nominees of Presidents Carter and Clinton, were confirmed in 12 and 13 days, respectively, after their nominations...
Now is the chance for our Democratic colleagues to prove they meant what they said. If they were serious when they cried out for new leadership at the Justice Department, they will follow Senate precedent. They will carefully weigh the qualifications of the nominee and vote in a timely fashion."
# posted by Kim Loontjer @ 8:24 AM 
