Federal Judiciary

McConnell: Reid Fails the Lott Standard

By Curt Levey

On the Senate floor today, Sen. McConnell eloquently explained that Sen. Reid has failed to live up to the standard of commitment set by then-Majority Leader Lott, who made good on his promise to get up-or-down votes for controversial 9th Circuit Clinton nominees Paez and Berzon. McConnell?s full remarks are here and excerpts are below:

In the final year of President Clinton?s final Congress, two of his circuit court nominees, Richard Paez and Marsha Berzon, were pending in the Judiciary Committee. They were quite controversial.
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Majority Leader Lott committed to proceed to the Paez and Berzon nominations by March 15 of the following year, which was, of course, a Presidential election year, just as this year is.
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Given that many in our Conference and over 300 groups opposed these nominations, it would have been easier in many respects for Majority Leader Lott not to fulfill his commitment. He could have taken a hands-off approach, shrugged his shoulders, and put the onus on Chairman Hatch to make good on the Majority Leader?s own commitment.
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But Senator Lott understood that commitments in this body are not to be taken lightly, especially when they are made by the Majority Leader. So, true to his word, Majority Leader Lott worked to ensure that his commitment was kept. The Paez and Berzon nominations were reported out of the Committee, and Majority Leader Lott filed cloture on them.
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Judges Paez and Berzon were confirmed, and have been sitting on the Ninth Circuit for eight years because Senator Lott honored his commitment.
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Unfortunately, a similar commitment made to my Conference was not honored today.

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Full post as published by ConfirmThem on May 22, 2008 (boomark / email).