The Leader Board
Continuing The Fight Against The Opioid & Heroin Crisis
'An Estimated 2 Million People In The U.S. Are Addicted To Prescription Opioids' SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): "This legislation will also allow us to fight back against the opioid and heroin crisis while bolstering medical innovation and treatments at the same time. It contains funding for the programs Congress authorized in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, continued funding for the 21st Century Cures Act to attack opioid abuse, plus additional funds to combat the… Continue Reading
05.02.17
A ‘Win for the American People’
VICE PRESIDENT PENCE: The budget deal "will avert a government shutdown but more important than that there's going to be a significant increase in military spending. Our armed forces have been hollowed out in recent years by budget cuts. 21 billion dollars in defense spending in this bill. There's also a down payment on border security. I think the American people are encouraged to hear that since our inauguration, illegal border crossings are down 60 plus percent in this country. And in this bi… Continue Reading
04.28.17
Sen. McConnell: ‘Protecting These Miners And Their Families … Has Been A Top Priority Of Mine’
Funding Bill Will 'Ensure That Thousands Of Retired Coal Miners And Their Families … Will Not Lose Their Health Care Benefits' SEN. MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): "…this one-week extension will also ensure that thousands of retired coal miners and their families - including many in my home state of Kentucky - will not lose their health care benefits. Protecting these miners and their families from losing their health care has been a top priority of mine. Last year, I fought for a long-te… Continue Reading
04.26.17
Alexander Acosta ‘An Exceptional Choice’ For Labor Secretary
Praised By Both Jobs Groups And Unions, Alexander Acosta's 'Experiences In Both Public Service And The Private Sector Position Him Well To Be An Effective And Pragmatic Leader At The Department Of Labor' SENATE HELP COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN LAMAR ALEXANDER (R-TN): "Alexander Acosta understands how excessive regulation can destroy jobs and make it harder for family incomes to rise. He has an impressive work and academic background, and his nomination has drawn support from workers across the country."… Continue Reading
04.11.17
Repealing Regulations That ‘Kill Jobs, Raise Prices, Depress Wages, And Lower Opportunities’
The Congressional Review Act Has Already Been Used '11 Times To Strike Down Obama-Era' Midnight Regulations SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): "Regulations aren't issued in a vacuum; they have real economic consequences that can harm the middle class. They can kill jobs, raise prices, depress wages, and lower opportunities. And yet, the Obama Administration went on a regulatory rampage at a time when we should've been looking to do just the opposite. … Fortunately, we now hav… Continue Reading
04.06.17
A Thirty Years War On Judicial Appointments
A Brief History Of The 'Scorched-Earth Ideological Wars' Over Judicial Nominations In 1987 Liberals 'Legitimized Scorched-Earth Ideological Wars Over Nominations At The Supreme Court' By Smearing Robert Bork With 'Intellectual Vulgarization And Personal Savagery' "Robert Bork's Supreme Court Nomination 'Changed Everything' …liberals and civil rights activists to launch an all-out campaign to defeat the nomination, beginning with a speech by Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., on the Senate … Continue Reading
04.03.17
Sen. Schumer Ignores The 99 Percent
In 2013, Democrats Invoked The Nuclear Option To 'Fill Up The D.C. Circuit' And 'Circumvent' Congress MYTH: 'Our Republican Colleagues Had Been Holding Back … Just About All … Lower Court Judges' CHUCK TODD, NBC News: "Let me say this, let me start with this way. You expressed regret earlier this year for the rules change that was made on judges in 2013. Why did you go along with it if you regret doing it?" SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): "Well, let's look at the history. Our Republ… Continue Reading
04.03.17
Judge Gorsuch: ‘Everyone Who Comes To Court Deserves Respect’
Judge Gorsch: As Judges, 'Sometimes The Answers We Reach Aren't Ones We Would Personally Prefer. Sometimes The Answers Follow Us Home And Keep Us Up At Night. But The Answers We Reach Are Always The Ones We Believe The Law Requires.' NOAH FELDMAN, Liberal Harvard Law Professor, & Former Clerk To Justice David Souter: "I'm not sure who decided that the Democratic critique of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch would be that he doesn't side with the little guy. It's a truly terrible… Continue Reading
03.31.17
Faux Filibuster Foes
Once Strident Filibuster Foes Sens. Merkley & Udall Turn Outspoken Filibuster Cheerleaders MSNBC'S CHRIS HAYES: "Are you going to filibuster Gorsuch?" SEN. JEFF MERKLEY (D-OR): "Absolutely. Hundred percent." HAYES: "Are you guys going to get to 40?" MERKLEY: "We are going to succeed in filibustering Gorsuch." HAYES: "You think so?" MERKLEY: "Yes." (MSNBC's "All In with Chris Hayes," 3/30/2017) SEN. TOM UDALL (D-NM): "Judge Gorsuch … I will vote no on his confirmation, including clot… Continue Reading
03.31.17
‘Very Difficult To Find Any Candidate For The Supreme Court … Any Better Than Neil Gorsuch’
Judge Gorsuch 'Masterful,' A 'Mainstream Nominee,' 'Exactly The Kind Of Jurist We Need On The Supreme Court' SEN. COLLINS: 'He Is Eminently Well Qualified To Serve On Our Nation's Highest Court' SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): "David Frederick - a longtime Democrat and board member of the left-leaning American Constitution Society … may have summed it up best in a recent Washington Post op-ed. 'The Senate should confirm [Gorsuch],' Frederick wrote, 'because there is no… Continue Reading
03.30.17
‘Judge Gorsuch Clearly Understands The Tenets Of Indian Law’
NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS: 'Judge Gorsuch Has Significant Experience With Cases Involving The Interests Of Indian Tribes And Indian People' SEN. CORY GARDNER (R-CO): He's 'Somebody Who Understands The West… Somebody Who Understands Indian Laws' SEN. CORY GARDNER (R-CO): Judge Gorsuch "does have the fact that he's a fourth generation Coloradan, avid flyfisher, expert skier, somebody who understands the west, our water laws, somebody who understands our resources laws, someb… Continue Reading
03.29.17
Another Day, Another Dem Fact Check
Washington Post Fact Checker: 'There Is No "Traditional" 60-Vote "Standard" Or "Rule" For Supreme Court Nominations, No Matter How Much Or How Often Democrats Claim Otherwise' FACT CHECK THREE: 'There Is No "Traditional" 60-Vote "Standard"' The Washington Post's Fact Checker: "There is no 'traditional' 60-vote 'standard' or 'rule' for Supreme Court nominations, no matter how much or how often Democrats claim otherwise. Three Pinocchios." ("Sanders's Convoluted Claim That Democrats Are Not Tr… Continue Reading
03.29.17
Editorials: Dems ‘Should Stand Down’ On SCOTUS Filibuster Threat
'Maybe A Few Democrats Will Show Some Backbone' And Refuse To Join An 'Assault On Reasoned Governance' 'Democrats Are Doing The Nation A Disservice … They Should Stand Down' CHICAGO TRIBUNE: "In [last] week's Senate confirmation hearings, Gorsuch has shown himself to be committed to the principle that judges should rule on the law as written, and apply it equally to all. … Democrats' questioning Tuesday and Wednesday was aggressive. But their attempts to trip up Gorsuch, reveal… Continue Reading
03.28.17
Energy Independence Executive Order ‘A Pro-Growth And Pro-Environment Approach’
Sen. McConnell: 'I've Worked Hard To Defend Coal Communities And The Jobs That They, And So Many Across The Country, Depend Upon' SEN. MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): "Throughout my career in the Senate, I've worked hard to defend coal communities and the jobs that they, and so many across the country, depend upon. These men and women have dedicated their lives to providing an affordable and reliable power source for our homes, businesses, and communities. They deserve our respect and our support. &hel… Continue Reading
03.27.17
There Is No 60 Vote ‘Standard’
Washington Post Fact-Checker: Senate Democrats' Are 'Being Slippery With Their Language,' 'Misleading,' There Is No 60 Vote 'Standard' For Supreme Court Nominees Sen. Pat "Leahy … does not support Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's decision to filibuster the Gorsuch nomination, which would effectively block a full Senate vote. 'I am not inclined to filibuster…'" (VTDigger, 3/27/17) Other 'Democrats Are Being Slippery With Their Language' FactCheck.org: "A confirmation vote… Continue Reading
03.24.17
‘Mindless Obedience To … Opposition’
'Sen. Chuck Schumer … Will Lead A Filibuster Of Neil Gorsuch's Nomination To The Supreme Court. What A Pity. And How Utterly Shameful' SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY (R-IA): "If you'd filibuster Judge Gorsuch, it's obvious you'd filibuster anybody." (Sen. Grassley, Press Release, 3/23/17) SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): "If this man doesn't get 60 votes, then I don't believe we can ever find a Republican in the country, presidential pick, that would get 60 votes." (U.S. Senate, Judiciary Committee, He… Continue Reading
03.23.17
Tail Wagging The Donkey
'If Judge Gorsuch Can't Achieve 60 Votes In The Senate, Could Any Judge Appointed By A Republican President'? SEN. MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): "If Judge Gorsuch can't achieve 60 votes in the Senate, could any judge appointed by a Republican president be approved with 60 or more votes in the Senate?" (Sen. McConnell, Press Conference, 3/21/17) "'If this man doesn't get 60 votes, then I don't believe we can ever find a Republican in the country, presidential pick, that would get 60 votes,' Republica… Continue Reading
03.23.17
The ABA ‘Gold Standard’
Top Dems: 'The ABA Evaluation Has Been The Gold Standard By Which Judicial Candidates Are Judged' SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY (R-IA), Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman: "The ABA's ringing endorsement is no surprise given Judge Gorsuch's sterling credentials and his distinguished decade-long record on the Tenth Circuit. Former Chairman Leahy and Minority Leader Schumer have called the ABA's assessment the 'gold standard' in evaluating federal judicial nominations. In light of Judge Gorsuch's impeccabl… Continue Reading
03.23.17
On Day 3, Judge Gorsuch ‘The Very Image Of A Thoughtful Jurist’
After A 'Steady Performance Through Two Grueling Days Of Testimony,' 'The Hearings Confirm That Gorsuch Is Imminently Qualified.' He 'Should Be Confirmed' Hearings Prove Judge Gorsuch 'An Even-Tempered, Deeply Knowledgeable Nominee Who Should Be Confirmed By The Senate' "Federal appeals court Judge Neil Gorsuch appeared headed for eventual confirmation to the Supreme Court on Wednesday … Gorsuch's steady performance through two grueling days of testimony lent an air of inevitability… Continue Reading
03.22.17
Judge Gorsuch’s Record Of Consensus Building
Judge Gorsuch: 'We Listen To One Another… And We Seek Consensus Whenever We Can,' 'That's How We Do Things In The West' JUDGE GORSUCH: 'In The West, We Listened To One Another Respectfully. We Tolerate -- We Cherish Different Points Of View. And We Seek Consensus Whenever We Can.' JUDGE GORSUCH: "I have decided… over 2,700 cases, and my law clerks tell me that 97 percent of them have been unanimous, 99 percent I've been in the majority. They tell me as well that according to th… Continue Reading
