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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGOP Senate eyes major change in Judicial Confirmations
"Senate Republicans are considering overhauling a long-standing tradition for processing judicial nominees to thwart potential Democratic obstruction of President Trumps picks to fill the federal bench. Ironically, its a custom GOP lawmakers themselves took advantage of to block numerous judicial nominees under President Obama, creating the glut of vacancies on the bench they now seek to help Trump fill."
"The custom is known as the home-state blue slip, and it has allowed senators to block judicial nominees hailing from their own states. The blue slip refers to the physical blue slips the two senators representing the state from where a judge is being nominated must turn in for the nomination to advance to a committee hearing. In theory, the custom is supposed to encourage the White House to get input from the Senate in choosing federal judges. However, under Obama, GOP senators withheld blue slips to block nominees even ones they previously backed as a way of foiling his agenda and leaving the vacancies open for a future Republican president."
"Republicans fear that Senate Democrats will now give them a taste of their own medicine, amidst reports that Democrats like Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) and Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) were considering withholding blue slips from appeals court nominees from their respective states."
"We cant allow Democratic senators to continue to obstruct this presidents agenda."... Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) said.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/republican-senators-blue-slip-changes-trump-judges
Nothing they do suprises me but it continues to infuriate me!!
Else You Are Mad
(3,040 posts)During the Obama administration because of GOP obstruction?
Va Lefty
(6,252 posts)I'm guessing they are referring to District Court Judges
Initech
(100,060 posts)angstlessk
(11,862 posts)and i did NOT want to say fucking, but I couldn't help myself!
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)How about "Hypocritically, it's a custom GOP lawmakers themselves took advantage of." I knew during the Obama administration that the blue slip process was being abused, and strongly suspected that Republicans would shit-can it as soon as they got control of the White House. Sure enough, and there's whiny Tom Cotton of Arkansas right out in front.