Unanimous Consent Request--S. 2971

Floor Speech

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Mr. REID. Mr. President, my friend from Ohio talks about common sense. Common sense dictates to me that the Republicans who run the Senate have had months to turn their attention to bills like this. They also have had months to do something else. For almost 200 days we have been waiting--waiting for the Republicans to have a hearing with Merrick Garland.

The Supreme Court is at a standstill. Nothing is being done. A new term, and they basically are afraid to take cases of controversy. Why? Because it is four to four. So common sense dictates to me that we should address the vacancy on the Supreme Court caused by the death of Justice Scalia.

On March 16, 2016, he was nominated. We are approaching October. To date, the Senate has not held a vote or even a hearing. It is nice that a few have decided to break from the Republican leader and even met with the man. That was nice of them to do that. Why haven't they held a hearing? Because they know they can't hold a hearing. Here is one of the most reasonable people who could ever be selected for the Supreme Court. The former chair of the Judiciary Committee, Orrin Hatch, said he should be put on the bench. He would be a consensus nomination. But not in this Republican world, no.

So Democrats would be happy to consider bills like this about which the Senator inquires as soon as Republicans have a little common sense--they used that word--and schedule a hearing and a vote on the nomination of Judge Garland.

I object.

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