Leahy Rebuffs GOP On Do-Over Confirmation Hearing

[usregimechange]

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy has rejected the idea of having another confirmation hearing on 7th Circuit Court nominee David F. Hamilton. Leahy made his position clear in an exchange of letters with ranking Republican Arlen Specter that has laid bare the mounting tension between the two lawmakers over the confirmation process.

Leahy held a hearing on Hamilton's nomination on April 1. Republicans boycotted the hearing. Specter appeared briefly to declare the boycott and protest Leahy's rapid pace on Hamilton, whom President Obama nominated on March 17.

But the day before the hearing, Specter and the other seven Republicans on the committee wrote to Leahy to request another hearing on Hamilton. They cited a Senate rule that provides for a majority of the minority side of committees, other than Appropriations, to call witnessess for follow-on hearings.

In an April 2 reply, Leahy said he was "confused" by the GOP invocation of that rule, and said "our practice, with Democratic chairmen and Republican chairmen, has been not to have public witnesses at confirmation hearings." The Vermont Democrat noted that the committee has bent that rule for Supreme Court and Attorney General confirmation hearings, and for nominees rated "not qualified" by the American Bar Association.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/legal_beat/2009/04/leahy-rebuffs-gop-on-doover-co.html

[williesgirl]

1. So the fuckers boycott the hearing and now want another? Fuck them. No. rec'd

[Supersedeas]

3. fussy lil' momma's boys....aren't they

[ellie]

2. Too bad, so sad,

go home and tell your dad!

[AllentownJake]

4. I really want Toomey to beat Specter

So that a democrat can wipe the floor with Toomey in 2010.