I am resorting to a bit of a nuclear option myself, day 28 (with help from Senator Whitehouse)

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07/28/2010

Office of U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill
United States Senate
Hart Senate Office Building, Ste. 717
Washington, D.C. 20510



Senator McCaskill:

Today Senator Whitehouse highlighted a concern that I have expressed to you on 27 previous occasions. He noted that judicial nominees have been "...taken to the floor where along with a great number of other judges who cleared the committee unanimously or with microscopic dissenting votes will descend into political quicksand..." The longest waiting judicial nominee is Jane Branstetter Stranch (nominee, 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals) who has been waiting for more than 8 months. Senator Whitehouse continued:

"Regrettably, that is the current situation, I hope that we can clear judges through but I must say that there are judges who have cleared the committee unanimously who have sat for months and months and months on the Senate floor awaiting a vote." -Senator Whitehouse, Kathleen O'Malley confirmation hearing, July 28th 2010.

I understand that you have been a strong proponent of ending secret holds in the Senate. While you deserve a great deal of credit for this, a secret hold does not prevent the Majority leader from filing for cloture. The fact that this has not occurred more than 8 months is a problem within the Democratic majority, not a lone anonymous Republican obstructionist. As such, I will continue to write to you and Senate Majority Leader every weekday until such time as this noncontroversial and qualified nominee is confirmed.

Sincerely,



(snip)



cc: Senator Reid

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1. Copied to Senator Klobuchar for the first time