[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 11 (Monday, January 29, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S592-S593]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               NOMINATION

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, as the majority leader indicated, we have 
done really a good job of approving the nominations of the new 
President. By tomorrow afternoon, 12 of the 13--I think that is the 
right number--will have been approved. Anyway, all but one will have 
been approved.
  While the Senator from Vermont is on the floor, I extend to him the 
appreciation of the entire Democratic caucus for the way the hearings 
have been conducted.
  First, as Senator Leahy was chairman of the committee, and then 
following that, working as the ranking member, this is a lot of heavy 
lifting.
  I talked to someone today, and they asked me: Why is it taking so 
long? I indicated that it is taking a long time because--let's assume 
Vice President Gore had been elected President, and I just pick a name. 
Let's assume Senator Kennedy had been selected to be the Attorney 
General for the United States rather than John Ashcroft, two people who 
have served this Senate on different sides of the political spectrum. I 
think the Republicans would have taken a lot of time to go over all the 
things Senator Kennedy had said in speeches and things he had said on 
the Senate floor.
  That is what we are doing. We are looking at the record of the 
designate for Attorney General, what he said when he was attorney 
general, what he did when he was attorney general, what he did when he 
was Governor, and what he did in the Senate.
  I extend my appreciation to the Senator from Vermont for the job that 
has been done. Senator Leahy, prior to coming here, was a prosecutor. 
He had to prepare his cases to make sure all the evidence was brought 
before the jury and/or the court. That is in effect what he is doing, 
but in this instance the jury is the 100 Members of the Senate. Without 
a good record, we cannot make a good decision.
  I have not had the benefit of sitting through all of these hearings 
as has the Senator from Vermont. Therefore, he must provide us, through 
the committee procedures, all he believes is important to be brought to 
the floor of the Senate. To this point he has, as usual, done an 
outstanding job. For the third time this morning, I extend the 
appreciation of the entire Democratic Conference for giving us 
information upon which we can make a decision regarding the Attorney 
General-designate that has been sent to us by the President.
  I personally have not made up my mind as to what I am going to do. 
Therefore, I am depending on the Senator from Vermont to give me his 
direction, his leadership. I think it is so important that we all take 
what has gone on in that committee to heart.
  I have said publicly on other occasions that this is not a decision 
only Democrats will have to make. I hope the Republicans will also keep 
an open mind before rushing to a decision. I have been very 
disappointed in some of my friends on the other side of the aisle who, 
prior to a single witness testifying, said they were going to vote for 
Senator Ashcroft. I think they should also keep an open mind and base 
their decision on what has transpired before the Judiciary Committee.
  I also take what the Senator from Vermont has said to heart. People 
have things to say. I do not know who wants to speak. We will certainly 
know before this debate takes place, but this is not a time to 
restrict--and I know the majority leader has not suggested that--
restrict how much time people can take. We want to make sure there is 
full opportunity for people to say what they want to say.
  I have been contacted by a number of my colleagues who are voting for 
and voting against Senator Ashcroft and who want to spend some time on 
the Senate floor explaining that position. The floor activities will 
be, of course, under the direction of the Senator from Vermont who is 
the ranking member on the Judiciary Committee. I look forward to a good 
debate. It should be a high point for the Senate.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Vermont, Mr. 
Leahy.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I thank my dear friend, the senior Senator

[[Page S593]]

from Nevada, for his kind words. As always, we rely on his leadership 
here, too. I appreciate what he said.

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