executive nominations

Recess Appointments Ruling Shows Consequences of GOP Obstructionism

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 4:01pm — Paul

There would be no litigation on recess appointments but for Republicans' refusal to allow the Senate to vote on President Obama's nominees.

PFAW

PFAW Applauds President for Appointing Cordray; Recess Appointment a Necessary and Proper Response to GOP Obstruction

In a move to ensure the functioning of an important consumer protection agency in the face of escalating GOP obstructionism, the White House announced that President Obama will install Richard Cordray as the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in a recess appointment today.

Marge Baker of People For the American Way issued the following statement:

PFAW: Senate GOP Chooses Big Banks Over Consumers, Blocks Cordray Nomination

The Senate GOP today blocked a vote on the nomination of Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

PFAW Applauds White House Call for September Action on Judges

Earlier this week, Senate Republicans yet again prevented the Senate from voting on highly qualified judicial nominees who had cleared committee, leaving 20 of them in limbo even though 17 had no recorded opposition.

Time to Stop GOP Obstruction of Judicial Nominees

As the Senate prepares for a planned recess scheduled through Labor Day, it is incumbent upon Republicans to allow floor votes on the rapidly increasing number of judicial nominees who have been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee but whose nominations are still pending before the whole Senate.

Why is the GOP keeping women and people of color off the bench?

To: Interested Parties
From: Marge Baker
Re: Why is the GOP keeping women and people of color off the bench?
Date: May 31, 2011

Last week, all Senate Republicans except Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski united to block Goodwin Liu, President Obama’s nominee to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, from getting an up or down confirmation vote.

Goodwin Liu Withdraws Nomination; PFAW Blasts Senate GOP's Smear Campaign

Berkeley law professor Goodwin Liu requested that President Obama withdraw his nomination to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Liu, who was first nominated to the position two years ago, was refused an up-or-down vote by Senate Republicans.

Senate Republicans Block Vote on Nomination of Goodwin Liu, Double Down on Partisan Obstruction

Republicans today used procedural tactics to block an up-or-down vote on the nomination of Goodwin Liu, President Obama’s nominee to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Flashback: GOP Senators Claim Filibusters of Judicial Nominees are Unconstitutional

The impending cloture vote on the Goodwin Liu nomination will be an important test to separate those senators who stand on principle from those who put politics above all else.

Senate Confirms Ed Chen: Republicans Forego Obstruction

The Senate today confirmed Ed Chen as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Despite attacks by some GOP leaders, Chen was confirmed by a vote of 56 to 42 and did not face a filibuster.

Marge Baker of People For the American Way issued the following statement:

“Ed Chen is exceedingly well qualified for this seat. Despite the repeated delays he was forced to endure, Americans should be glad that the Senate finally confirmed his nomination.

PFAW Edit Memo: The Lesson From One Year of Health Care Reform—Pay Attention to the Courts

When health care reform legislation was signed one year ago, the sustained attack against health care reform didn’t stop when the bill was signed. Almost immediately, the opponents of the bill opened a new attack on the legislation in a different venue: the federal courts.

PFAW Edit Memo: Progress on Judicial Confirmations (But Not Enough)

From: Marge Baker, People For the American Way
To: Interested Parties
Date: March 8, 2011
Re: Progress on Judicial Confirmations (But Not Enough)

Organizations Call on Senate Leaders to Keep Confirmations Moving

In a letter sent today, a wide array of organizations called on Senate leaders to ensure that President Obama’s judicial nominees receive timely votes during the 112th Congress.

Editorial Memorandum: Judicial Nominees and the State of the Union

To: Interested Parties
From: Marge Baker, People For the American Way
Re: Judicial Nominees and the State of the Union
Date: January 25, 2011

While it’s not clear exactly which Supreme Court Justices will attend President Obama’s State of the Union address tonight, it is clear that at least some of the Court’s conservative members agree with the President on one pressing issue: the need to hasten the confirmation of judges to the federal bench.

Republicans Stymie Progress on Judicial Nominations

According to media reports, Senate Republicans have agreed to confirm a total of 19 of the 38 judicial nominations pending on the Senate’s calendar at the beginning of the lame duck session in exchange for a commitment that Senate Democrats refrain from holding votes on four others.

Holding Judges Hostage

As the end of the 111th Congress approaches, 38 judicial nominees approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee are waiting for a vote on the Senate floor. Many of the nominees have been waiting for months, while a few have been waiting for almost a year.

Senate Judiciary Committee Moves Judges Forward, Full Senate Still Gripped by GOP Obstruction

The Senate Judiciary Committee today approved another 11 of President Obama’s judicial nominees, sending them to the full senate where they’ll join 23 others waiting for approval.

A Government That Works: Americans Want a Functioning Government

Pundits will spend months discussing and dissecting the results of our most recent elections. Whether the root cause of the results is the country’s economic situation, the flood of outside money or something else, one thing is clear: Americans are angry at gridlock and partisanship in Washington. They don’t want political squabbles and they don’t want more talking points: they want a government that works.

And a well functioning judicial branch is central to having such a government.

Letter to Senate Leadership from Progressive Organizations Calling for an End to the Backlog of Judicial Nominees

Letter from progressive organizations to Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell calling for an end to the troubling backlog of judicial nominees that exists to date in the 111th Congress

PFAW Calls for GOP Senators to Show Responsibility, Confirm Stalled Judicial Nominees

Republican Senators are looking to show that they have any interest in responsible governance before November’s election, this is the last week for them to show it.

Currently, 23 of President Obama’s judicial nominees are waiting for a vote by the full Senate. Nineteen of those nominations have been pending for more than five months, some for nearly a year. Eleven of those nominations are to fill vacancies designated “judicial emergencies.”

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