Miss. Senator Calls for an End to Unprecedented Democrat Delay of Presidential Nominations
U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today attended a hearing of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration to consider S.Res.355, a resolution he cosponsored that would streamline the confirmation process for most positions. The measure was approved by the committee, 10 to 9.
“Democrats have continued to abuse the Senate confirmation process and needlessly demand cloture on noncontroversial, well-qualified nominees,” Wicker said. “These unnecessary delays are inconvenient, but more importantly, they have real consequences for the American people. I am proud to join Senator Lankford and support this resolution, which could help break the logjam in the Senate and give the President the team he deserves.”
- Res. 355 was introduced by Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., in December. The resolution would reduce post-cloture debate time for most executive branch nominees from 30 hours to eight hours and district court nominees from 30 hours to two hours. The resolution maintains the 30 hours of post-cloture debate time for Supreme Court, Circuit Court, and Cabinet-level nominees. In 2013, former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., introduced the same resolution for the duration of the 113th Congress. It passed the Senate with bipartisan support, 78-16.
Wicker has been a strong proponent for speeding up the confirmation process. In October, he took to the Senate floor to call upon his colleagues to “burn the midnight oil” and work through the night and weekends to confirm the President’s nominees.
Senator Roger Wicker Press Release
4/25/2018
