Senate Proceeding on Jun 17th, 2009 :: 4:37:05 to 4:43:00
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4:37:02 to 4:37:23( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: with my statement. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mrs. hutchison: thank you, mr. president. and i yield the floor. a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from new mexico. mr. binge maping man mr. bingaman: twice in the last two weeks i have requested unanimous consent

4:37:05 to 4:43:00( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Jeff Bingaman

4:37:24 to 4:37:45( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: to consider calendar number 97, and i'd like to do that again that the time. we've advised the republican side of the aisle that i will be doing with that at this point. mr. president, i ask unanimous consent -- mrs. hutchison: excuse me. mr. bingaman: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to executive session to consider calendar number 97

4:37:46 to 4:38:06( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: hillary chandler tompkins to be the solicitor of the dartment of interior, t be confirmed, that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, that no further motions be in order, relating printed in the record, that upon confirmation, the president be immediately notified of the senate's action and that the senate then resume legislative session.

4:38:07 to 4:38:27( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: the presiding officer: is there objection? mrs. hutchison: mr. president, i do object th senator from texas is recognized. mrs. hutchison: i do object on behalf of the minority because they have not yet had time to clear on our side, but certainly we'll work with you going forward to be able to this nomination.

4:38:28 to 4:38:48( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: mr. bingaman: well, mr. president, let me the presiding officer: objection is heard. mr. bingaman: -- comment briefly. i regret that objection has been raised again. this nomination was reported out of our energy and natural resource of april.

4:38:49 to 4:39:12( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: -- on the 30th of april. of course we are now the 1 of june. there was no testimony at our committee hearing or no suggestion made by anybody that miss tompkins was not qualified for this position. clearly she is qualified, and well qualified, for this position. she has served in important positions in our state

4:39:13 to 4:39:33( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: government in inspect n. she' and she is by experience eminently qualified to be the solicitor. i would also just point out to my colleagues, she is the fiduciary native american to be no, native american to be nominated by the president to be the solicitor of the department of interior and she is the second woman in the history of thi country to be nominated to be

4:39:34 to 4:39:54( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: the solicitor of the department of interior. this is an extremely important secretary salazar is trying very hard to put together a team of people that can help him to -- to do the job of secretary of interior, and he needs a person in this solicitor's office that

4:39:55 to 4:40:18( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: he chosen her to so it, to my mind, is unacceptable for us to continue denying him the choice that he has made and the choice that president obama has made for the solicitor's office.

4:40:19 to 4:40:39( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: it is very unfire tompkins to be denying her thi position, and, frankly, i have great difficulty understanding why she was singled out there. have been a great many that have come before the senate in the last couple of months related -- in connection with department ointerior responsibilities. why we would be singling her out and holding her up while others

4:40:40 to 4:41:01( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: have been approved, i have great difficulty understanding. now, my colleagues say they need additional time, t additional time. frankly, i can't understand what the additional time relates to. i know of no questions that need to be looked i know of no objections that have been raised to her

4:41:02 to 4:41:23( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: and i would hope that if there is anything, any additional investigation or question that continues to republican side, that they resolve that here in the next day or two so we can complete this nomination and get on wit with -- with other business. but this is a very unfair

4:41:24 to 4:41:46( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: situation with regard to this nominee. in my view, there is no justification for it. and i -- i know that the presiding officer, senator udall and i will continue to pursue

4:41:47 to 4:42:08( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: this repeatedly days until this issue is resolved and she can be confirmed. i believe once permission is given for her nomination to be voted on, i think she will be overwhelmingly confirmed. and that's as it should be. but due to the we operate under here in the

4:42:09 to 4:42:30( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: senate, the republican members nomination, very unfacial, in my view, and i -- very unfairly, in my view, and i think we will have to revisit it next feways. mr. president, let me ask unanimous consent that robert burnham and terry chin of my office be granted privileges of the floor for the pendency of s.

4:42:31 to 4:42:46( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: 1023, the travel promotion bill. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. bingaman: mr. president, i yield the floor absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll.