gop obstruction

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

Senate GOP Blocks All Judicial Nominees as it Leaves for Recess

The Senate left for recess last night without confirming a single one of the 23 pending federal judicial nominees. 21 of these nominees have been waiting over five months for Senate votes, some for nearly a year. Seventeen were approved by the Judiciary Committee without opposition. Eleven have been nominated to fill vacancies designated “judicial emergencies.”

Marge Baker, Executive Vice President of People For the American Way, issued the following statement:

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.”

Judiciary Committee Approves Seven Nominees, Including Liu; All Have Been Waiting Months for Senate Votes

After months of delays, the Senate Judiciary Committee today approved the nominations of seven federal court nominees, including Goodwin Liu for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Senate GOP Votes in Lockstep to Block DADT Repeal, DREAM Act

The Senate GOP voted in unison today to block efforts to take up the Defense Authorization bill, which was to be the vehicle for repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and passing the DREAM Act. No GOP Senator voted to proceed with the bill.

GOP Digs in on Judicial Obstruction in Judiciary Committee

Senate Republicans on the Judiciary Committee today blocked votes on eight judicial nominees, including five renominated by the White House after they failed to receive a vote on the Senate floor before the August recess.

Senate Confirms One Judicial Nominee, GOP Holds Up Many More

After relentless obstruction and dangerous politicking of the Senate GOP, the Senate today confirmed Jane Stranch to a seat on the Sixth Circuit Court of appeals.

PFAW Memo: Robert Gibbs, the “Professional Left”, and the Opportunity We Can’t Miss

To: Progressive Allies
From: Michael B. Keegan, President, People For the American Way
Re: Robert Gibbs, the "Professional Left", and the Opportunity We Can't Miss
Date: August 17, 2010

GOP Obstruction Against Judges Reaches New Low

Last night, the Senate GOP refused to confirm numerous judicial nominees who have been waiting months for up-or-down votes, including several who were approved unanimously by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

GOP Refuses to Vote on Jane Stranch Nomination, After Eight Months of Stalling

This afternoon, Sen. Patrick Leahy attempted to secure a floor vote on the nomination of Jane Branstetter Stranch of Tennessee to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked the vote, claiming that the GOP needed more time to consider her nomination.

President Obama nominated Stranch on August 6, 2009, with the support of both her home state senators. The Judiciary Committee approved her nomination with bipartisan support in November. She has been waiting for a confirmation vote since.

Senate GOP Throws Health Care Fit, Stalls Judges

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell today blocked confirmation votes on two nominees to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, Judges James Wynn and Albert Diaz of North Carolina. North Carolina Senator Kay Hagan attempted to move the two nominations, both of which have received strong bipartisan support.

If confirmed, Diaz will be the first Latino to serve on the Fourth Circuit, and Wynn will be the fourth African American.

PFAW Statement on the Appointment of Donald Berwick

President Obama today will appoint Dr. Donald Berwick to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

PFAW Statement on Day One of the Kagan Hearings

Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee began the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. Senate Republicans are facing enormous pressure from their base to oppose Elena Kagan, but can’t find any credible reason to do so.

Democrats Begin Breaking the Nominee Logjam

Following yesterday’s 72-24 confirmation of Chris Schroeder to head the Office of Legal Policy, Marge Baker, Executive Vice President at People For the American Way, issued the following statement:

“The overwhelming confirmation vote puts a spotlight on the ongoing efforts by Senate Republican leaders to block the Obama administration at every turn. More importantly, it shows that Senate Democrats can successfully overcome Republican delay tactics by insisting on votes and highlighting obstruction.

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