Posted on 11/16/2017 2:33:30 PM PST by cotton1706
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley will schedule a hearing for a federal appeals court nominee that Minnesota Sen. Al Franken had been trying to block through an informal system known as the blue slip process.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley announced Thursday that Democrats will not be able to block President Donald Trump's judicial nominees through an unofficial senatorial courtesy system known as the "blue slip process," saying he will hold hearings on some nominees even if both home state senators haven't given their approval.
Grassley's move will get rid of one of the few obstacles the Trump administration has faced in getting judges confirmed. Trump nominees who have made it out of committee have all been confirmed so far by the Republican-controlled Senate, and with 145 vacancies pending and more opening up soon, Trump is poised to leave his mark on the judiciary early on in his first term.
Under the blue slip process, some, but not all, chairmen of the Senate Judiciary Committee would not schedule hearings unless both home state senators returned forms — historically on blue sheets of paper — signaling their approval. At the start of the year, Grassley indicated he was still following this practice, delaying hearings for some nominees until Democrats returned their blue slips.
But on Thursday Grassley announced on the Senate floor that he would schedule a hearing for Nov. 29 for Minnesota Supreme Court Justice David Stras, nominated for the US Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit. Minnesota Sen. Al Franken had announced in September that he would not return his blue slip for Stras, saying in a statement that he was concerned that Stras "would be a deeply conservative jurist in the mold of Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia."
(Excerpt) Read more at buzzfeed.com ...
STUNNING. This was unexpected.
Live Long Chuck
Is that some very, tiny, weeny, little baby balls I see growing there, Grassley?
They know we’re watching. And they better get some conservative $hit done of they’re doomed! And judicial confirmations are the ONLY thing they can use to placate us.
I hope they’re finally feeling the pressure to act!
Wonder if he ran that by Bitch?
I guess that grope photo is his new "blue" slip.
-PJ
Should a Democrat be elected to the White House in 2020 just watch how fast the Blue Slip hold is re-implemented.
judges... is the ONE thing Republicans are doing RIGHT !!!!!
Stupid procedure, should have been relegated to the dustbin of history last century..............
“They know we’re watching. And they better get some conservative $hit done of they’re doomed! And judicial confirmations are the ONLY thing they can use to placate us.
I hope they’re finally feeling the pressure to act!”
You summed it up well. Exactly so.
I’m glad they do have balls when it comes to Judges
Perfect timing no? At least they recognize opportunity when they see it.
Get them in there quick in case we lose a senate seat with Moore.
Did Val say this because Franken said he didn’t like HOMOS???
if a home-state senator, or any senator...has any genuine reason (honest information) that a nominee is not qualified, the senator can and certainly should present it for the judiciary committee’s consideration. Fine and dandy!
but an automatic blockade of potentially-well-qualified candidates? NO WAY, that was CRAP! I,m glad Sen. Grassley is dumping it!
Hey Mitch, are ya watchin?
mitch is toast. as are all RINOs, vote for TRUMPSTERS in 2018!
Don’t think for a moment they wouldn’t use the same tactics.
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