===========================================================================
Just the Facts: All Presidential Nominees Deserve Fair Up or Down Votes
===========================================================================

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary June 25, 2008

Just the Facts: All Presidential Nominees Deserve Fair Up or Down Votes
Senate Democrats Are Failing To Meet Their Constitutional Obligation By
Allowing These Important Positions To Remain Vacant

ÿÿWhite House News



"For the first time in my Administration, the Sixth Circuit will now have a
full court to address important issues facing the residents of Kentucky,
Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. Unfortunately, too many other Federal
judgeships across America remain vacant. This is unacceptable and
inexcusable. Since the beginning of the 110th Congress, the Senate has
confirmed only 10 circuit court nominees. In the last two years of the past
three Administrations, the Senate has confirmed an average of 17 circuit
court judges. I strongly urge the Senate to hold hearings and votes on the
28 pending circuit and district court nominations to ensure that our Nation
has a fully functioning judicial system."

_ President George W. Bush, 6/25/08

There are 394 total nominations pending in the Senate, of which 30 are
career civilian appointments and 152 are military promotions. Of the
remaining 212, about 60 percent have been pending longer than 90 days.These
nominations cumulatively represent more than 50,000 days of missed
opportunity in roles that are critical to our nation's security and
prosperity. Most of these nominations are for military promotions, career
promotions, or non-controversial appointments whose terms expire at the end
of this administration. Before leaving for its 4th of July recess the
Senate should fulfill its constitutional obligations to provide these
pending nominees a fair up or down vote. The President believes it's time
for the Senate to finally judge the President's nominees by their
qualifications and not by the political calendar.

Some of the critical nominees include:

Judicial Nominations
  þ 8 Circuit Court Nominations
  þ 20 District Court Nominations

Economic Nominations
  þ 3 Members of the Security and Exchange Commission
  þ 3 Members of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors
  þ 1 Member of the Council of Economic Advisers
  þ 1 Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy
  þ 2 Assistant Secretaries of the Department of Housing and Urban
    Development
  þ 1 President of the Government National Mortgage Association

Justice Department Nominations
  þ 4 Assistant Attorneys General
  þ 1 Solicitor General
  þ 1 Administrator, Drug Enforcement Administration
  þ 1 Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Department of Homeland Security Nominations
  þ 1 Under Secretary for Management
  þ 1 Deputy Administrator for FEMA
  þ 1 General Counsel

Examples of Lengthy Delays
  þ 327 days Carl Kress, Federal Maritime Commissioner
  þ 470 days Carol Pope, Federal Labor Relations Authority Member
  þ 532 days Dan Meron, Health and Human Services General Counsel

ÿ

# # #

ÿ

ÿ
===========================================================================
Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080625-11.html