Democrats Begin Breaking the Nominee Logjam

Following yesterday's 72-24 confirmation
of Chris Schroeder to head the Office of Legal Policy, Marge
Baker, Executive Vice President at People For
the American Way, issued the following statement:

"The overwhelming confirmation vote puts a
spotlight on the
ongoing efforts by Senate Republican leaders to block the Obama
administration
at every turn. More importantly, it shows that Senate Democrats can
successfully overcome Republican delay tactics by insisting on votes and
highlighting obstruction.

"The case of Chris Schroeder is a poignant
example of how the
President's nominees to key federal agencies and courts have been held
up
for months on end. Schroeder was nominated in May, 2009 to head the
Office of
Legal Policy. He is a distinguished legal academic who worked previously
for
both the Senate Judiciary Committee and Office of Legal Counsel. He
enjoyed the
support of a majority of Republicans on the Judiciary Committee. Yet his
nomination languished throughout 2009, and he had to be renominated
in January.

"Schroeder was overwhelmingly confirmed over
the opposition of 24
Republican Senators. These same Senators demanded three hours of floor
time to
debate the nomination, but they didn't even bother to use it. This is
obstruction, pure and simple, and they didn't even try to hide it.

"Senate Democrats appear poised to move ahead
on other critical
nominations in the coming days. It is critical that they continue to
push ahead
and break the Republican logjam on nominations. The very ability of the
federal
government to do its job and serve the American people is on the line."