CWA: The President's Nominees Deserve an Up-or-Down Vote

Washington, D.C. – Following is a statement by the Communications Workers of America on the Senate’s failure today to move forward on the nomination of Robert Wilkins to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals:

For the fourth time in just a few weeks, Senate Republicans have set gridlock above good governance by blocking a vote on the nomination of Robert Wilkins to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia circuit. 

Last week, the minority blocked a vote on the nomination of Nina Pillard to that same court. The previous week, the Senate minority blocked action on Patricia Millett, also nominated to serve on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, and on Congressman Mel Watt (D-N.C.) who was nominated to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

The Senate minority’s decision to block the vote on Watt was a new low. In our nation’s history, a sitting member of Congress nominated to an executive branch position has never been blocked to prevent an up-or-down vote on his or her nomination.

CWA and our allies in the Fix the Senate Now coalition have said it’s time to end the gridlock in the U.S. Senate. Earlier this year, Senate Majority Leader Reid stood up to the obstructionists and won confirmation votes for many of the president’s nominees, including the five members to the National Labor Relations Board, and nominees to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Environmental Protection Agency and other critical agencies. To counter this current round of obstruction, the majority leader should use the procedural motion that’s been used 17 times since 1978 to move these nominees to a vote. President Obama won re-election in 2012. His nominees deserve and up-or-down vote.

Contact: Candice Johnson or Chuck Porcari, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168, cjohnson@cwa-union.org and cporcari@cwa-union.org