Wilson: Justice Brown Deserves a Fair Vote

Today, Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) gave the following remarks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of Justice Janice Rogers Brown and in opposition to Senate Democrats' partisan and unprecedented obstruction of President Bush's judicial nominees. Congressman Wilson strongly supports the constitutional option, which would ensure that all judicial nominees receive a fair, up-or-down vote on the Senate floor. "Mr. Speaker, for over 200 years, judges have been confirmed by a simple majority," said Wilson. "When President Clinton was in office, his nominees required only 51 votes to be confirmed by the Senate. Unfortunately, Democrats have changed the rules and require today's nominees to receive an unprecedented 60-vote standard."Justice Janice Rogers Brown of California is one of the many highly qualified nominees who are being denied a fair up-or-down vote. Justice Brown is the first African American woman to serve on California's highest court, and was retained with 76 percent of the vote statewide in her last election. However, Democrats are denying her of the opportunity of a fair vote simply because she was nominated by President Bush."On Monday, Majority Leader Bill Frist explained in USA Today why Democrat obstructionism is harmful to the American people and the Constitutional process. When our courthouses sit empty, Democrats shouldn't be focused on partisan games."In conclusion, God bless our troops and we will never forget September 11th."###