U.S. SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY

Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),
Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee,
To Chairman Arlen Specter’s News Conference
On His Agenda For The Judiciary Committee
Thursday, February 24, 2005 

“Chairman Specter’s news conference demonstrated his determination, his statesmanship and his ambitious agenda for the committee, and Democrats and Republicans on the Judiciary Committee are delighted to see him back so soon in such fine form and good humor. 

“He outlined the bipartisan progress that we are making together on several efforts, including asbestos legislation and hearings the committee will hold on privacy and identity theft issues.   

“The conflict between the White House and the Senate over controversial judicial nominees is unnecessary, and it would serve the country far better to have nominees who do not divide the Senate and the American people.  I have been urging the President to work with the Senate for some time.  The Chairman was correct to recognize the role the Constitution envisions for the Senate in the lifetime appointment of federal judges.”

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