(Texas Senator John Cornyn's)Floor Speech: Judicial Nominations

cornyn.senate.gov ^ | February 17, 2005 | John Cornyn

[MEG33]

I was comparing his "popularity" to polls I see about Kay Bailey.

She has been around a long time, though. I like him better!

[ArmyBratproud]

John Cornyn, of San Antonio, is a voice for Texas values in Washington. He was sworn in to the U.S. Senate on December 2, 2002, succeeding Phil Gramm.

Sen. Cornyn continues to take a leading role on many issues in the Senate. He is committed to bolstering America’s national defense and homeland security, working to strengthen the economy and grow jobs, making health care more accessible, and improving educational opportunity for all Texans.

After just one year in the Senate, John Cornyn was chosen by leadership to serve as a Deputy Whip. As a member of the Whip team, he helps mobilize votes and support on major issues. Sen. Cornyn serves on five key Senate committees: Armed Services; Judiciary; Budget; Small Business and Entrepreneurship; and the Joint Economic Committee. He chairs the Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship.

Sen. Cornyn is a prominent supporter of President Bush’s judicial nominees, he continues to work for Texas military personnel and veterans, and has been a leader on working to bring about common sense, balanced immigration reform. He stands as a dedicated defender of free markets, traditional values, and individual liberty.

In addition to his legislative committees, Sen. Cornyn is the chairman of the Senate India Caucus, vice chairman of the Senate Republican Conference Task Force on Hispanic Affairs, vice chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, and a member of the Senate Republican Task Force on Health Care Costs and the Uninsured, the Congressional Oversight Group on Trade, and the President’s Export Council.

While in the Senate, John Cornyn has received various awards and recognitions, including the National Child Support Enforcement Association’s Children’s Champion Award; the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Friend of Farm Bureau Award; the Texas Association of Business’s Fighter for Free Enterprise Award; and the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce’s (TAMACC) International Leadership Legislative Award; among others.

As Texas Attorney General from 1999-2002, John Cornyn directed many initiatives vital to the interests of Texas families. Cornyn served for six years as a District Court Judge in San Antonio before being elected to the Texas Supreme Court in 1990, where he served for seven years.

John Cornyn was born in Houston on February 2, 1952, the son of John and Gale Cornyn, both native Texans. His father, a B-17 pilot in World War II, served for thirty-one years in the U.S. Air Force and, later, taught at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. A graduate of Trinity University and St. Mary’s School of Law, both in San Antonio, John Cornyn also earned a Masters of Law from the University of Virginia Law School in 1995. He was named the St. Mary’s Distinguished Law School Graduate in 1994 and a Trinity University Distinguished Alumnus in 2001.

Sen. Cornyn is married to Sandy, his wife of 25 years. They have two daughters.

[doug from upland]

I called his office yesterday and asked if they would trade him to California for Boxer. I also gave them Chuckie Schumer's quote March 7, 2000 when Richard Paez and Marsha Berzon were up for confirmation ---

Mr. Schumer: I also plead with my colleagues to move judges with alacrity -- vote them up or down.

[MeekOneGOP]

He has been a nice surprise for me. I wish Texans
in general were aware of the great job he is doing.

Well, let's ping a few Texans to this and get the word out.
And I'm pinging my General Interest list here, too.

Thanks for the post and ping here, folks.

---

(Texas Senator John Cornyn's)
Floor Speech: Judicial Nominations

Excerpt:

So my question is, to whom is the distinguished Democratic leader referring? None of President Bush's nominees have been turned down by the Senate-- none, zero. The nominees he referred to were denied a vote altogether. In fact, all of these nominees would have been confirmed last Congress had majorities been allowed to govern as they have during the entire history of this country and the entire history of the Senate -- save and except for the time when Democrats chose to deny a majority the opportunity for an up-or-down vote.

So I would say, correcting the record, it is a little difficult to turn down a nominee, as the minority leader has said, if the nominee never gets an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor.

Now, the second part I would like to correct is that when the Democratic leader was asked whether obstruction would create a 60-vote threshold for all future judicial nominees, he said:

It's always been a 60-vote for judges. There is -- nothing change[d].

He said:

Go back many, many, many years. Go back decades and it's always been that way.

Well, we took his advice, and we did go back over the years.

It turns out it has not always been that way. Indeed, there has never, ever, ever been a refusal to permit an up-or-down vote with a bipartisan majority standing ready to confirm judges in the history of the Senate until these last 2 years. Many nominees have, in fact, been confirmed by a vote of less than 60 Senators.

In fact, the Senate has consistently confirmed judges who enjoyed a majority but not 60-vote support, including Clinton appointees Richard Paez, William Fletcher, and Susan Oki Mollway; and Carter appointees Abner Mikva and L.T. Senter.

---

This Texan is PROUD to say: "John Cornyn: You are MY Senator!"

John Cornyn (R)
Texas

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Texas or General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.

Full Texas Ping List

[Bahbah]

Thanks for the ping, Meekie. I am very impressed with Cornyn.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks. I loved this. Cornyn did a good job to put lil Harry in the spotlight, saying, in effect:

Harry Reid, you are one lying little weasel !!!!

And never even used the word "lie", "liar" in any form.

[txrangerette]

Indeed. I, too, mourned the loss of Phil Gramm. Cornyn is Gramm with the earthy edge OFF. I can live with that. (Still miss Dickie Flatt of Mexia, though, with those permanently ink-stained fingers from working in his print shop, which BTW, I have personally visited.)

[MeekOneGOP]

Thank you. :^D

bump!!

[txradioguy]

Yes Cornyn was a pretty good AG as well. I'm glad he's one of my senators. Between him and Sen. Hutchinson Texas is in good hands.

[TheGrimReaper]

Cornyn bump

I have to admit...John has done MUCH better than I ever expected.

[bitt]

thanks for ping. good stuff. right stuff. future stuff.

[rapture-me]

After the election in '06 Cornyn will be the Senior Senator From Texas, Kay Bailey will be unemployed, and Rick Perry will still be Governor. The real question is who will replace Kay Bailey? (Karl Rove perhaps?)

[altura]

I always liked Cornyn and voted for him, but he has exceeded my expectations.

He would be a great candidate in '08. He's good looking,
well spoken, principled...

unfortunately, he's from Texas...and that might make people think Texas wants to rule the nation.

It does, of course, and rightly so, but ....

[TRY ONE]

"This Texan is PROUD to say: "John Cornyn: You are MY Senator!""

Here! Here!
BTW, where is our SENIOR Senator, Kay Bailey?
What has she accomplished in the last 12+ years?
When she is interviewed on TV she is almost incoherent.
Now I hear she is going to run for Gov.
I hope Don Evans runs instead --- we need a real leader.

[MEG33]

;)

[txrangerette]

Henry Bonilla

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Bump.

[native texan]

and I've been worried that he would be timid his first year or so. What a great Texan!

[MeekOneGOP]

Yep! Cornyn has pleasantly surprised. :^)

Thanks, folks.

bump!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!