Thune to Senate Democrats: We Can Do This the Easy Way or the Hard Way

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WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:

Thune's remarks below (as delivered):

"Mr. President, it didn't take long.

"Democrats have already begun stalling President Trump's nominees - and it doesn't seem to matter who it is.

"Right now, the senator from Connecticut is holding up a vote on John Ratcliffe, who was nominated for director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

"The Intelligence Committee favorably reported Mr. Ratcliffe's nomination on a bipartisan vote: 14 to 3.

"In a joint statement with Chairman Cotton, the Democrat vice chair of the Intelligence Committee said this, and I quote, 'Our world is far too dangerous for any delay in having a Senate-confirmed leader in charge of the CIA. We urge expeditious consideration of this important nomination.'

"Now, Mr. President, that, again, is from the Democrat vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, urging, and I quote again, 'expeditious consideration of this important nomination.'

"Now, Mr. President, this is the director of the CIA - the Central Intelligence Agency - a key national security position.

"Mr. Ratcliffe is a qualified nominee.

"He was director of national intelligence in the first Trump administration - the quarterback for all 18 elements of the intelligence community.

"In the House, in the House of Representatives, he served on the Intelligence Committee, and he was chairman of the Cybersecurity Subcommittee on the Homeland Security Committee.

"He's been vetted by the Intelligence Committee.

"And he'll likely receive bipartisan support on the floor as he did in the committee.

"Mr. President, the senator from Connecticut wants to unnecessarily delay this vote.

"He says senators need time for a 'full, real debate.'

"Well, where are they?

"Why are we not debating?

"Nothing has been stopping our Democrat colleagues from coming down to the floor to debate and make any concerns that they have known to the Senate and the American people.

"At least one senator has already taken advantage of that opportunity.

"The senator from Connecticut also says that senators need more time to review the nominee's record.

"Well, Mr. President, Mr. Ratcliffe's nomination was announced two months ago.

"Is that long enough?

"His hearing was a week ago.

"There has been plenty of time to review his record.

"It's time to vote.

"This is just an unnecessary delay that makes this country less safe.

"Mr. President, Democrats and Republicans agree that this is an important job.

"We agree that Mr. Ratcliffe is qualified.

"But a handful of Democrats want to play politics with this nominee.

"And I have to say, I honestly don't know what that accomplishes for them.

"But I do know this: it makes this country less safe.

"Mr. President, it's time to vote."

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