02.27.19

Senate Continues to Make Nominations a High Priority

‘Yesterday, the Senate confirmed the 31st new circuit court judge since January 2017. Eric Miller came to the Senate for our consideration with a stellar resume and a sterling legal reputation. We had every indication he’d interpret our nation’s laws and Constitution as they are actually written. This is exactly the kind of judge that the American people deserve to sit on our nation’s courts of appeals. That’s why this Senate will continue to make judicial nominations a high priority.'

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding the need to confirm more of the president’s well-qualified nominees:

“Yesterday, the Senate confirmed the 31st new circuit court judge since January 2017. Eric Miller came to the Senate for our consideration with a stellar resume and a sterling legal reputation. We had every indication he’d interpret our nation’s laws and Constitution as they are actually written. This is exactly the kind of judge that the American people deserve to sit on our nation’s courts of appeals. That’s why this Senate will continue to make judicial nominations a high priority.

“This week, however, we need to make more progress on the backlog of important executive branch nominees who Democrats’ delaying tactics and obstruction have left languishing on the Senate calendar. 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 -- and has an impressive private-sector background as well.

“In the last Congress, the Finance Committee recommended Mr. Desmond favorably to the full Senate by a vote of 25 to 2. This was back in August. But this non-controversial nominee never got a floor vote and had to be sent back to the White House. Well, Mr. Desmond was re-nominated. Earlier this month, our colleagues on the Finance Committee reported him favorably yet again. This time, the vote was 26 to 2.

“So I’m sorry my Democratic colleagues required us to file cloture on this thoroughly non-controversial nominee. It’s emblematic of the unreasonable tactics that have sadly become their standard operating procedure in many cases. But I’m glad we voted to advance his nomination yesterday, and I urge everyone to join me in voting to confirm him soon.”

Related Issues: Nominations, IRS, Judicial Nominations