WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to change Senate rules to fast-track President Trump’s unqualified nominees. The move undermines the ability of the Senate to fulfill its constitutional duty of advice and consent on nominations.
“Before the recess, Senate Democrats worked in good faith with Senate Republicans to negotiate a package of nominations to break the deadlock and move these nominations through the chamber in an expedited, professional, and bipartisan fashion. At the very last minute, however, President Trump blew up the negotiation. Rather than stand up to him, Senate Republicans are now willing to give away the Senate’s authority when it comes to advice and consent. Senate Republicans claim they are violating Senate rules just for this set of nominees, but I’m afraid this is going to open the door to rushing through more extreme nominations whose only qualification seems to be loyalty to the chief.”
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