Comment Of Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee,

On Continuing Republican Objections To Committee Hearings
June 17, 2008

 

“Today Republicans added addressing the needs of the Federal judiciary to the now long list of hearings they have objected to in the last week.  Republicans objected to the Judiciary Committee’s investigation into the use of coercive interrogation techniques.  Republicans objected to the impact of Supreme Court decisions on the daily lives of all Americans.  And today, the Republican minority has objected to a hearing requested by Judiciary Committee Republicans to examine legislation about the need for additional Federal judgeships. 

 

“It would appear to an objective observer that Republicans believe they were elected to the United States Senate to thwart the oversight and legislative efforts of this body.  This now all too familiar pattern is childish and serves no good purpose.  

 

“I wondered last week, as the Republican minority objected to an important hearing on Supreme Court decisions, just whose side our Republican colleagues are on.  Instead of turning their attention to issues affecting the daily lives of the people who have sent them to Washington, they appear more interested in embroiling this chamber in petty, partisan politics.  This behavior marks another afternoon of silence behind the witness table in the Senate Judiciary Committee, and another lost opportunity to address issues concerning the American people.”

 

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