[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 27, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S1497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Nominations

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, yesterday, the Senate confirmed the 
31st new circuit judge since January of 2017. Eric Miller came to the 
Senate for our consideration with a stellar resume and a sterling legal 
reputation. We had every indication he would interpret our Nation's 
laws and Constitution as they are actually written. This is exactly the 
kind of judge the American people deserve to sit on our Nation's courts 
of appeals. That is why the Senate will continue to make judicial 
nominations a top priority.
  This week, however, we need to make more progress on the backlog of 
important executive branch nominees whom Democrats' delaying tactics 
and obstruction have left literally languishing on the Senate calendar.
  The first is Michael Desmond, the President's choice to serve as 
Chief Counsel of the IRS. Mr. Desmond has put his legal expertise to 
work through years of public service, including at the Department of 
Justice Tax Division and at the Department of the Treasury. He has an 
impressive private sector background as well.
  So listen to this: In the last Congress, the Finance Committee 
recommended Mr. Desmond to the full Senate by a vote of 25 to 2. That 
was last August. Yet this noncontroversial nominee never got a floor 
vote and had to be sent back to the White House. Well, Mr. Desmond was 
renominated. Earlier this month, our colleagues on the Finance 
Committee reported him favorably yet again--26 to 2.
  I am sorry my Democratic colleagues required us to file cloture on 
this thoroughly noncontroversial nominee. It is a good example of the 
unreasonable tactics that have, sadly, become their standing operating 
procedure in many cases, but I am glad we voted to advance the 
nomination yesterday, and I urge everyone to join me in voting to 
confirm him soon.