How big is the backlog? Pretty damned big:
One year into the Bush administration, there were 70 appointees awaiting confirmation. One year into the Obama administration, there are 177. And dozens of those holds are directly affecting the agencies responsible for the United States' security and foreign policy, amid two wars and an amped-up terrorism threat. The United States has no ambassador to Ethiopia, no head of the Office of Legal Counsel, no director at the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, no agricultural trade representative.
The Senate Dem caucus blogs more info:
Democrats understand their constitutional obligation with respect to the confirmation process. For proof, take a look at President Bush's first year in office:
* Only 3 nominees waited to be confirmed for at least 3 months
Compare these statistics with President Obama's first year:
* 46 nominees waited to be confirmed for at least 3 months
* 45 of Obama's nominees lingered for at least 4 months
* 9 waited for at least 6 monthsWho are some of these nominees that Republicans have slow-walked?
* General Stanley McChrystal, commander of the forces in Afghanistan
* Secretary of the Army, John McHugh - a Republican - had a hold placed on him by Republican Senators
* Democrats were forced to file cloture on Chris Hill, now Ambassador to Iraq. That vote ended up 73-17.In the wake of the Christmas Day bombing attempt, Republicans are still slow-walking two critical intelligence nominees:
* Philip Goldberg, nominee to lead the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research
* Caryn Wagner, nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Intelligence and Analysis
During his first seven years in office, Bush made 171 recess appointments, of which 105 were to full-time positions.
...
No comments:
Post a Comment