Barrasso: Democrats’ Hypocrisy is Undeniable

"To my Senate Democrat colleagues who participated in this blockade, let me say this… You demanded change at a time when 62 percent of Biden's nominees were confirmed by voice vote. Yet you now reject the very changes you once championed now that a different president is getting zero nominees confirmed by voice vote or unanimous consent."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today spoke on the Senate Floor about the Republican plan to end Democrats' nomination crisis and return the Senate to its long-standing practice of confirming sub-cabinet nominees in groups.

Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso's remarks.

Sen. Barrasso's remarks as prepared:

"Since President Trump took office, Democrats have weaponized the rules of the Senate. Regardless of qualifications, every nominee got the same treatment:

total warfare. From ambassadors to deputy assistant secretaries, Democrats have filibustered each and every one of them. Senate Democrats would filibuster the White House janitors if they could.

"Today, President Trump is the first president in history not to have a single nominee confirmed by voice vote or unanimous consent.

"The actions of the Democrats will not change. Yesterday, Democrats made that clear. On this very Floor, Senator Cornyn tried to bring up for consideration the Democrats' own proposal from 2023. It was offered by Senator Klobuchar and Senator King. Senators Klobuchar and King wanted to confirm nominees in groups. They claimed at the time the nomination process was broken. Why? Because Democrats said Joe Biden's nominees weren't being confirmed quickly enough. Well, let's look at the data.

"On the day Klobuchar-King was introduced in 2023, 62 percent of Joe Biden's nominees were already confirmed by voice vote. 62 percent confirmed by voice vote. That's how Democrats defined a broken Senate. Let's fast-forward to today. Zero percent of President Trump's nominees have been confirmed by voice vote. Zero. And what did Democrats do yesterday on this very Floor? They objected when we Republicans proposed the very same change. They slammed the door on even debating their own ideas. Senator Cornyn put forward the very reforms Democrats once demanded - and Democrats refused to debate them.

"Senator Klobuchar said in 2023 grouping together nominees was vital for our 'national security, economic success, and more.' She was right. Yet yesterday, Democrats opposed their own proposal. In the words of former presidential candidate John Kerry, they were for it before they were against it. Democrats' hypocrisy is breathtaking. Democrats' surrender to the far-left wing of their party is now complete. Democrats created today's nominations crisis.

"This week, Republicans began the process to return the Senate to its long-standing practices. The Senate has a history of allowing sub-cabinet nominees to be confirmed in groups. Our resolution formalizes what both parties have always done - until now.

"Senate Republicans are building on the Klobuchar-King blueprint. Republicans are simply updating it to reflect Democrats' unprecedented obstruction. Unlike Democrats' previous version, the Republican plan is more limited. Democrats wanted to group together and confirm lifetime judicial appointments. The Republican plan doesn't include judges. Our proposal deals with sub-cabinet nominees - and sub-cabinet nominees only. Not judges. Not Cabinet secretaries. Those nominees will still be considered individually. Many will have 30 hours of debate.

"Modern presidents have over 1000 positions to be filled. That includes deputy secretaries. Undersecretaries. Assistant secretaries. Deputy assistant secretaries. Ambassadors. And others. Those positions keep the government running. Those nominees will be confirmed in groups. Just like they were for every president before President Trump.

"Every committee hearing and markup will still happen. Every FBI background check will still happen. Every ethics review will still happen. Every nominee will still appear in front of committee. Every nominee will still answer questions from Senators. Every nominee will still be subject to a vote in committee. In other words, scrutiny will continue. What ends is Senator Schumer's endless obstruction.

"The Floor is for final action - not endless obstruction. To my Senate Democrat colleagues who participated in this blockade, let me say this: You had your chance to be reasonable. You chose obstruction instead. You demanded change at a time when 62 percent of Biden's nominees were confirmed by voice vote. Yet you now reject the very changes you once championed now that a different president is getting zero nominees confirmed by voice vote or unanimous consent. The hypocrisy is undeniable.

"Senate Republicans are putting back in place the very practice that Democrats endorsed until today - the very customs every Senate followed until now. Senate Republicans are restoring tradition. We are ending the Schumer Confirmation Shutdown. We are getting the Senate back to work for the American people."

###