Statement on the Senate "Compromise"
Statement on the Senate "Compromise"
May 24, 2005The following is a statement regarding the compromise reached in the United States Senate on judicial nominees from Congressman Trent Franks of Arizona:
"As one member of the House Judiciary Committee, which is explicitly duty bound to the oversight of the court system, I strongly support the Senate Majority Leader in making it decidedly clear to Democrats that it is unacceptable to manufacture an unconstitutional 60 vote mandate for approval of judicial nominees. One hopes those 14 Senators who so stridently sought to protect Senate procedure would seek to be as protective of the Constitution in the future. It is incumbent upon us to safeguard the nominations process as well as protect those nominees who enjoy majority support and who deserve an up-or-down vote in the full Senate.
"It was President Garfield who once said before a Supreme Court battle during his Administration that the confirmation process would determine whether or not the President of the United States is the Chief Executive or the clerk of the Senate. It remains perfectly clear that 41 Senators, or an even smaller minority of 14, must not injure that separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution. The Constitutional option is still the means by which members can ensure a fair and up-or-down vote on judges. I urge the Senate Majority Leader to continue to make that decidedly clear."
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/az02_franks/sencomp.html