[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 57 (Monday, April 20, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2259-S2260]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LYNCH NOMINATION
Mr. REID. Mr. President, it has been 164 days--164 very long, long
days, especially for a woman by the name of Loretta Lynch. Her
nomination is languishing here in the Republican limbo that they have
created. For 6 months Senate Republicans have looked for any and every
reason to push back confirmation of this good woman to be Attorney
General.
Does anyone know why? Can a single Republican Senator tell us why?
The answer is no. Her qualifications are impeccable. She has some
bipartisan support. But again, for unknown reasons, Republican support
seems to be disappearing. Is there a single Republican Senator who can
come here to the Senate floor and give an explanation that does not
absolutely smack of political foolishness?
Republicans do not know why Loretta Lynch has not yet been
confirmed--just listen to what Congressman Peter King said. By the way,
Peter King is a Republican from New York.
All you've heard from our party for a very long time is how
much contempt they have for Holder. Now they're presented
with Loretta Lynch, who is by far the best attorney general
they could ever have expected this President to appoint, and
they still hold the thing up. . . . And for what? Because
they think it scores them a few political points? With whom?
That is the irony of it all. Republicans have held Ms. Lynch's
nomination hostage for nothing more than political purposes. Here is
something I will read to the people within the sound of my voice, which
is a direct quote from the New York Daily News editorial.
The Republicans in the Senate, the meanest and most narrow-
minded among them occasionally acting as if they want the
Democrats to have the White House into the next century, need
to free Loretta Lynch this week.
They need to stop using abortion language in an anti-
trafficking bill for cover, they need to stop using Lynch's
support for President Obama on immigration as cover, they
need to stop insulting Lynch the way they have for months as
they have delayed a vote on confirming her as our next
attorney general for the simple reason that they can.
The issue here was never Loretta Lynch's policies, always
about President Obama's. They have used her to get at him,
because to the end they remain obsessed with getting at him.
No wonder Jeb Bush stood up for Lynch in New Hampshire. Bush
didn't just show grace in doing that, he also showed more
common sense than his brother showed in eight years as
President.
Jeb Bush has to know that Sen. Mitch McConnell hijacking
this process does him absolutely no good, the way it does him
no good to have McConnell as an important voice and face of
the Republican Party. As long as McConnell is, too many
voters completely wide-open about the upcoming Presidential
campaign will continue to think the party is still owned and
operated by scrubs who think they can push around Loretta
Lynch for sport.
``Pushing around Loretta Lynch for sport'' is certainly how it seems.
How else can you explain the Republicans changing the subject every
time her name comes up? Every time Ms. Lynch's confirmation is
discussed, they change the subject. Every time when asked, Republicans
deflect: ``next Congress'' or ``after Keystone'' or ``after we try and
shut down Homeland Security,'' and, of course, the newest, ``after
trafficking.''
President Obama put it best last Friday when he said:
Nobody can describe a reason for it beyond political
gamesmanship in the Senate. I have
[[Page S2260]]
to say that there are times where the dysfunction in the
Senate just goes too far. This is an example of it.
He said: ``This is embarrassing.''
It is embarrassing. It is embarrassing for the Senate and for our
Nation. Even Republicans--I should say some Republicans--are
embarrassed. They know there is no rationale for delaying a vote for
America's chief law enforcement officer. There is no reason that we
cannot confirm Loretta Lynch today--right now, even. There is nothing
preventing the majority leader from coming to the Senate floor
immediately and moving the Senate into executive session for
consideration of Ms. Lynch's nomination.
Why then is the majority leader determined to make her wait until
after the trafficking legislation is approved? Why? We are now spending
the first 2 weeks of this current work period finishing two matters--
human trafficking and her nomination. These two matters could have been
completed months ago. Everyone is aware of what has transpired with the
human trafficking bill.
It is sufficient to say that Republicans tried to pull a fast one on
the American people. Republicans attempted to broaden a precedent that
traditionally prevents Federal funds for paying for abortion, except in
cases of rape, incest, and when the life of the mother is at risk. This
is commonly known as the Hyde language. The Hyde language has applied
to taxpayer dollars. Republicans want to change that to apply to
nontaxpayer dollars.
It was a failed political ploy, and it is no surprise, then, that the
Republicans are scrambling to save their necks after trying to dupe
American women. My Republican colleagues appear to be close to seeing
the light on human trafficking, and there seems to be a path forward.
But there is no guarantee that we can do it. As of right now, we do not
have an agreement in place to put the finishing touches on our work on
the bill. But we are working on that goal. The progress we have made is
due almost entirely to the good-faith efforts of Senators Murray,
Leahy, and Amy Klobuchar.
When are Republicans going to see the light on Loretta Lynch? When
will the majority leader realize he continues to obstruct a qualified
nominee for absolutely no reason? The Senate should turn to a vote on
Ms. Lynch's nomination immediately. Every day that passes without a
newly confirmed Attorney General proves once and again that Republicans
cannot lead and they certainly cannot govern.
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