FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2017

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP’S NOMINATIONS FACE NEEDLESS OBSTRUCTION

RESISTING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE: Senate Democrats have decided to obstruct President Donald J. Trump’s Administration, and the American people, by refusing to confirm qualified nominations.

  •        Democrats in the Senate have delayed crucial appointments made by President Trump in an attempt to obstruct the will of the American people and the President’s agenda.
o   Of the 197 Presidential nominations to agencies, the Senate has only confirmed 48.
o   Only 2 of President Trump’s 23 judicial nominations have actually been confirmed by the Senate.

  •        Democrats in the Senate have shown they are willing to break irresponsibly with tradition that allows a President to choose his own appointees in a timely fashion.
o   Less than a month away from the August recess, the Senate has confirmed only 23 percent of President Trump’s 216 nominations.
o   By the first August recess during President Obama’s first term, the Senate had confirmed 69 percent of his 454 nominations.

 
UNPRECEDENTED OBSTRUCTION: In an effort to prevent President Trump from following through on the policies for which the American people voted, Senate Democrats are putting his nominations through time-consuming parliamentary procedures not seen by the previous Administration.

  •        Democrats in the Senate have allowed only 10 percent of President Trump’s confirmations to happen by voice vote, while more than 90 percent of Obama’s were confirmed by a simple voice vote at this point in 2009.
  •        In just a few months, Democrats have delayed President Trump’s nominations by going through the burdensome cloture process 30 times.
o   By the first August recess of his Administration, President Obama only had 8 cloture votes on his nominations.

 
DAMAGING THE GOVERNMENT: The blatant obstruction of President Trump’s nominations threatens key aspects of the Government, including national security, by leaving positions vacant.

  •        Key positions in the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are vacant because of obstructionism by Senate Democrats, damaging national security.
o   The Department of Defense has seen only 6 of President Trump’s 22 nominations confirmed. Positions waiting confirmation votes include:
§  Deputy Secretary of Defense
§  Principal Deputy under the Secretary of Defense
§  Assistant Secretary of Defense

  •        Senate Democrats are attempting to hamstring President Trump’s law-and-order agenda by confirming less than 20 percent of his nominations to the Department of Justice and less than half of his nominations to the Department of Homeland Security.
o   The Department of Justice has only 3 of President Trump’s 19 nominations confirmed. Positions waiting confirmation include:
§  Solicitor General of the United States
§  Assistant Attorney General
o   The Department of Homeland Security has only 3 of President Trump’s nominations confirmed. Positions waiting confirmation include:
§  Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

  •        Even as the President pushes to reform the healthcare system so it works for the American people, only one third of his nominations to Health and Human Services are confirmed.
o   The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has only 3 of President Trump’s 11 nominations confirmed. Positions waiting confirmation include:
§  Deputy Secretary of HHS
 

QUALIFIED NOMINATIONS: President Trump has nominated qualified individuals to key positions, but their confirmations have been delayed by obstructionism in the Senate.

  •        Patrick M. Shanahan is nominated to be Deputy Defense Secretary at the Department of Defense.
o   Dubbed by The New York Times as “Mr. Fix It” who would provide “a good complement to the strategic expertise of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.”
o   Ran Boeing’s missile-defense business.

  •        Noel J. Francisco is nominated to be Solicitor General of the United States at the Department of Justice.
o   A former clerk to Antonin Scalia who has argued before the Supreme Court.
o   He served as Associate Counsel to the President from 2001 to 2003, and he was Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Legal Counsel from 2003 to 2005.

  •        Lee Francis Cissna is nominated to be Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at the Department of Homeland Security.
o   Served as an attorney at USCIS and as an immigration policy director at the Department of Homeland Security.
o   Graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Georgetown Law School.

  •        Kevin Hassett is nominated to be Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA).
o   Forty-four economists from across the political spectrum sent a letter to the Senate supporting Hassett’s nomination.
o   Even economists serving in the Obama administration agreed that “the Nation would be well served if Kevin Hassett is confirmed.”
o   For the past ten CEA chair nominations, the time waiting for confirmation averaged 8 days. Hassett has already waited twenty-seven days.
 
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Republican National Committee
July 10, 2017

RNC Statement on Senate Democrats' Obstruction

WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel released the following statement on Senate Democrats' obstructionist tactics on President Trump's nominees:

"
Senate Democrats are using every weapon in their arsenal to delay President Trump’s nominees and ignore the will of the American people," said Chairwoman McDaniel. "This unprecedented level of resistance is dangerous to our government and damaging to our country. Senate Democrats should abandon this pointless effort and work with President Trump to help the American people."

 
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____________________

RNC Research

Obstruction Junction

Senate Democrats Are Obstructing President Trump And The American People By Refusing To Give Nominees A Fair Vote

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TOP TAKEAWAYS

  • Senate Democrats have delayed and stalled on confirming crucial appointments and nominations made by President Trump by putting nominees through time consuming parliamentary procedures not seen by past administrations.
  • Democrats in the Senate have allowed only 10 percent of President Trump's confirmations to happen by voice vote, while more than 90 percent of President Obama's were confirmed by a simple voice vote by this point in 2009.
  • The average time it takes for the Senate to confirm a Trump nominee compared to past administrations is the highest in recent history, at 43 days.
  • President Trump's nominees have faced the burdensome hurdle of a cloture vote 30 times so far, while President Obama only had 8 cloture motions in total on his nominees by the August recess. Fourteen of President Trump's cabinet nominees faced a cloture vote, compared to eleven for all previous presidents combined.
  • Democrats have tried to slow the process, invoking arcane parliamentary procedure to force delays and boycotting committee meetings to prevent votes-some Democrats have even admitted they are doing so for political revenge.

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DEMOCRATS HAVE ENGAGED IN HISTORIC LEVELS OF OBSTRUCTION TO SLOW THE NOMINATION PROCESS

Democrats Have Slowed The Nomination Process To A Crawl

Democrats In The Senate Have Allowed Only 10 Percent Of President Trump's Confirmations To Happen By Voice Vote, While More Than 90 Percent Of President Obama's Were Confirmed By A Simple Voice Vote At This Point In 2009. (United States Senate Roll Call Votes, Senate.gov, Accessed 7/9/17)

So Far, Democrats Have Delayed President Trump's Nominations By Going Through The Burdensome Cloture Process 30 Times. (United States Senate Roll Call Votes, Senate.gov, Accessed 7/9/17)

  • By The First August Recess Of His Administration, President Obama Only Had 8 Cloture Votes On His Nominations. (United States Senate Roll Call Votes, Senate.gov, Accessed 7/9/17)

As Of July 3, 2017, The Average Time To Confirm A Trump Nominee Was 43 Days, Compared To 35 Days For Obama Nominees, 24 Days For George W. Bush Nominees, 26 Days For Clinton Nominees, And 30 Days For George H.W. Bush Nominees. ("Tracking How Many Key Positions Trump Has Filled So Far," The Washington Post , Updated 7/3/17)

The Democrat Obstruction Of President Trump's Cabinet Picks Was Historically Long

The Washington Post Headline: "Trump's Wait For His Major Cabinet Picks Was Nearly The Longest In 30 Years" (Kevin Schaul and Kevin Uhrmacher, "Trump's Wait For His Major Cabinet Picks Was Nearly The Longest In 30 Years," The Washington Post , 4/27/17)

"14 Of Trump's Cabinet Nominees Faced A Cloture Vote, Compared To 11 For All Previous Presidents Combined." "In other words, 14 of Trump's Cabinet nominees faced a cloture vote, compared to 11 for all previous presidents combined. (There were four instances, two under Obama and two under Bush, when a cloture vote was threatened but ultimately withdrawn.)" (Glenn Kessler, "President Trump's Claim His Nominees Faced 'Record-Setting Long' Delays," The Washington Post , 6/13/17)

  • Glenn Kessler: "There Was Presumption In The Senate Of Letting A New President Get His First-Term Team In Place Quickly That Apparently Has Gone By The Wayside." (Glenn Kessler, "President Trump's Claim His Nominees Faced 'Record-Setting Long' Delays," The Washington Post , 6/13/17)
  • Fourteen Of Trump's Cabinet Nominees Faced A Cloture Vote While Only Seven Of Obama's Nominees Over Eight Years Faced A Cloture Vote. "Here's a striking statistic: Fourteen of Trump's Cabinet nominees faced a vote to end debate (known as a cloture motion), even though six ultimately achieved 60 or more votes. (Five nominees - Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, OMB Director Mick Mulvaney, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt - were confirmed with 52 or fewer votes, indicating they were controversial nominations.) By contrast, only seven of Obama's nominees over eight years faced a cloture vote. Three of those votes came after the Senate rules were changed in 2013." (Glenn Kessler, "President Trump's Claim His Nominees Faced 'Record-Setting Long' Delays," The Washington Post , 6/13/17)
  • President George W. Bush's Nominees Only Faced Three Cloture Votes And "The Only Other Cabinet Nominee Who Faced A Cloture Vote Was Commerce Secretary C. William Verity In 1987." "George W. Bush's nominees only faced three cloture votes, one of which failed - the nomination of John R. Bolton to be ambassador to the United Nations. The only other Cabinet nominee who faced a cloture vote was Commerce Secretary C. William Verity in 1987, when Ronald Reagan was president." (Glenn Kessler, "President Trump's Claim His Nominees Faced 'Record-Setting Long' Delays," The Washington Post , 6/13/17)

Kessler: "Clearly, The Delays Faced By Trump's Cabinet Are Historically Long … Trump Also Faced Unusually Sustained Opposition For A New President …" "We are not going to be nit-picky about the fact that Obama's Cabinet took one more day to get in place than Trump's Cabinet. Clearly, the delays faced by Trump's Cabinet are historically long…But Trump also faced unusually sustained opposition for a new president, including cloture votes demanded for 14 of his choices." (Glenn Kessler, "President Trump's Claim His Nominees Faced 'Record-Setting Long' Delays," The Washington Post , 6/13/17)

President Trump's Nominees Have Faced A Historic Level Of Opposition Including A Record Number Of Cloture Votes From Senate Democrats

The Washington Times : President Trump's "Cabinet Saw The Largest Number Of 'No' Votes Of Any President In Modern History." "Republicans chided Mr. Schumer for initially getting his numbers wrong, skipping over 24 nominations Mr. Trump has made. And the GOP said those confirmations Mr. Schumer is touting only came after a series of roadblocks erected by Democrats on Capitol Hill. More than 60 percent of the president's picks have faced Democratic-led filibusters, and his Cabinet saw the largest number of 'No' votes of any president in modern history." (Stephen Dinan, "Trump Blasts Senate Democrats As 'Obstructionists,' Demands Approval Of His Nominees," The Washington Times , 6/5/17)

Pew Research Center's FactTank Headline On June 1, 2017: "Trump's Nominees Have Already Faced A Large Number Of Cloture Votes" (Drew DeSilver, "Trump's Nominees Have Already Faced A Large Number Of Cloture Votes," Pew Research Center's FactTank , 6/1/17)

  • "Trump's Nominees For Lower-Level Government Posts Have Already Faced The Second-Highest Number Of Senate Cloture Votes In A Single Congress." "The confirmation battles over President Donald Trump's nominees didn't end when the Republican-led Senate changed its rules in early April to enable simple majorities to end filibusters on Supreme Court nominations. Nor did they end when Trump's final Cabinet pick, Alexander Acosta, was confirmed as labor secretary later that same month. In fact, they're still happening: Trump's nominees for lower-level government posts have already faced the second-highest number of Senate cloture votes in a single Congress." (Drew DeSilver, "Trump's Nominees Have Already Faced A Large Number Of Cloture Votes," Pew Research Center's FactTank , 6/1/17)
  • "Less Than Five Months Into Trump's Tenure, 25 Of His Executive And Judicial Nominees Have Been The Subjects Of Votes On Cloture … That's More Than Have Occurred During The Entire Term Of All But One Congress Since 1949." "Less than five months into Trump's tenure, 25 of his executive and judicial nominees have been the subjects of votes on cloture - the Senate term for limiting debate and moving a bill, nominee or other issue to a final up-or-down vote. That's more than have occurred during the entire term of all but one Congress since 1949, when the Senate first allowed cloture to be moved on nominations, and Trump has yet to nominate people to fill hundreds of other executive-branch jobs." (Drew DeSilver, "Trump's Nominees Have Already Faced A Large Number Of Cloture Votes," Pew Research Center's FactTank , 6/1/17)
  • "Some Liberal Activists Have Called On Senate Democrats To Delay Every Trump Nominee For As Long As Possible, Even If They Can't Ultimately Block Confirmation." "As of May 31, the Senate has confirmed 38 Trump nominees to key executive-branch positions, according to a database of 'key positions' maintained jointly by The Washington Post and the Partnership for Public Service (including one person filling two top State Department posts). Twenty-three of those nominees, along with two judicial nominees, have had to clear the cloture hurdle before their appointments could be voted up or down. One possible factor: Some liberal activists have called on Senate Democrats to delay every Trump nominee for as long as possible, even if they can't ultimately block confirmation." (Drew DeSilver, "Trump's Nominees Have Already Faced A Large Number Of Cloture Votes," Pew Research Center's FactTank , 6/1/17)

DEMOCRATS HAVE USED PETTY PROCEDURAL TACTICS TO STALL THE NOMINATION PROCESS

Democrats Have Used Procedural Delay Tactics And Boycotted Committee Hearings

"The [Confirmation] Process Has Been Mired In Procedural Delays Forced By Democrats In Committee …" "Just two of Trump's Cabinet chiefs were approved on Inauguration Day, fewer than his three most recent predecessors. The process has been mired in procedural delays forced by Democrats in committee and problems in processing vetting paperwork. The White House also played a role in the delays, waiting to submit now-Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue's nomination in March." (Kevin Schaul and Kevin Uhrmacher, "Trump's Wait For His Major Cabinet Picks Was Nearly The Longest In 30 Years," The Washington Post , 4/27/17)

"Democrats Have Tried To Slow The Process, Invoking Arcane Parliamentary Procedure To Force Delays, And Boycotting Committee Meetings To Prevent Votes." "Several of Trump's wealthy picks had a complex collection of business interests to sort out with the Office of Government Ethics, though some had their Senate hearings before that paperwork was processed. Democrats have tried to slow the process, invoking arcane parliamentary procedure to force delays, and boycotting committee meetings to prevent votes." (Kevin Schaul and Kevin Uhrmacher, "Trump's Wait For His Major Cabinet Picks Was Nearly The Longest In 30 Years," The Washington Post , 4/27/17)

"Senate Democrats … Are Slow-Walking The Installation Of Trump's Cabinet To A Historic Degree." "But Senate Democrats - the last line of Democratic defense - are slow-walking the installation of Trump's Cabinet to a historic degree, so much so that Republicans haven't even started yet on Trump's legislative agenda. Republicans will eventually win all these confirmation battles, but it will be time-consuming and ugly." (John Bresnahan and Burgess Everett, "The Senate Is Coming Apart," Politico , 2/5/17)

  • "Democrats … Have Used All The Procedural Arrows In Their Quiver To Slow Down Confirmation Of Trump's Cabinet Nominees." "Democrats, many of whom openly loathe Trump and are furious over his refugee crackdown - which Democrats describe as a 'Muslim ban' - and other executive actions, have used all the procedural arrows in their quiver to slow down confirmation of Trump's Cabinet nominees." (John Bresnahan and Burgess Everett, "The Senate Is Coming Apart," Politico , 2/5/17)
  • Democrats Have "Boycotted Committee Meetings, Refused To Let Panels Meet In The Afternoon, Dragged Out Votes As Long As Possible, And Refused To Agree To Even Normal Floor Requests. They Are Voting Against Trump's Cabinet Picks In Unprecedented Numbers …" "They've boycotted committee meetings, refused to let panels meet in the afternoon, dragged out votes as long as possible, and refused to agree to even normal floor requests. They are voting against Trump's Cabinet picks in unprecedented numbers, arguing that Trump doesn't deserve even a patina of partisan support." (John Bresnahan and Burgess Everett, "The Senate Is Coming Apart," Politico , 2/5/17)

Senate Democrats Have Held Up Cabinet Nominations For Political Revenge

Politico : "Democrats To Give Trump Cabinet Picks The Garland Treatment." (Burgess Everett and Elana Schor, "Democrats To Give Trump Cabinet Picks The Garland Treatment," Politico , 12/5/16)

  • Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH): "They've Been Rewarded For Stealing A Supreme Court Justice. We're Going To Help Them Confirm Their Nominees, Many Of Whom Are Disqualified?" "'They've been rewarded for stealing a Supreme Court justice. We're going to help them confirm their nominees, many of whom are disqualified?' fumed Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). 'It's not obstruction, it's not partisan, it's just a duty to find out what they'd do in these jobs.' Senate Democrats can't block Trump's appointments, which in all but one case need only 51 votes for confirmation. But they can turn the confirmation process into a slog." (Burgess Everett and Elana Schor, "Democrats To Give Trump Cabinet Picks The Garland Treatment," Politico , 12/5/16)
  • Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) Said The Hold Ups Were Evidence That "What Goes Around Comes Around" After Garland Nomination Delay. "Incoming Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said she highly doubts Sessions will be confirmed on Inauguration Day. She, like other Democrats interviewed for this story, said that Republicans' treatment of Garland is impossible to forget. 'Past is present, and what goes around comes around. Now, those are pretty hackneyed sayings, but those are really true around here,' Feinstein said in an interview." (Burgess Everett and Elana Schor, "Democrats To Give Trump Cabinet Picks The Garland Treatment," Politico , 12/5/16)

Senate Democrats Are Using The Blue Slip Process To Slow The Confirmation Process For Judicial Nominees

The Huffington Post Headline: "Democrats Can't Stop Trump's Agenda. But They Can Block His Judicial Nominees" (Jennifer Bendery, "Democrats Can't Stop Trump's Agenda. But They Can Block His Judicial Nominees," The Huffington Post , 5/10/17)

  • The Senate Judiciary Committee's Tradition Requires Home-State Senators Of A Judicial Nominee To Turn In A Blue Slip "To Signal Support For Moving Forward With The Nominee." "Here's where the blue slip comes in. There's a longstanding tradition in the Senate Judiciary Committee that requires both home-state senators of a judicial nominee to turn in a blue slip ― literally, a blue piece of paper ― to signal support for moving forward with the nominee. Without blue slips from both senators, the nominee won't get a hearing, and the nomination is effectively dead." (Jennifer Bendery, "Democrats Can't Stop Trump's Agenda. But They Can Block His Judicial Nominees," The Huffington Post , 5/10/17)
  • "Blue Slips Amount To Giving A Single Senator Veto Power Over A President's Court Pick." (Jennifer Bendery, "Democrats Can't Stop Trump's Agenda. But They Can Block His Judicial Nominees," The Huffington Post , 5/10/17)
  • "The Problem With Leaving Court Seats Empty, Though, Is That The Vacancies Cause Work To Pile Up, Stretching The Judicial Branch To Its Limits. Regular People's Cases Get Delayed For Years, And Sitting Judges Struggle With Burnout." (Jennifer Bendery, "Democrats Can't Stop Trump's Agenda. But They Can Block His Judicial Nominees," The Huffington Post , 5/10/17)
  • The "Blue-Slip Tradition Could Trip Up The President's Plans To Plow Ahead With Filling Up Courts With The Judges He Wants." "Trump announced 10 judicial nominees this week, and the White House has signaled there's more to come soon. But this blue-slip tradition could trip up the president's plans to plow ahead with filling up courts with the judges he wants." (Jennifer Bendery, "Democrats Can't Stop Trump's Agenda. But They Can Block His Judicial Nominees," The Huffington Post , 5/10/17)

The Washington Times Headline: "Senate Democrats Embrace Extreme Vetting Of Trump's Court Picks" (Alex Swoyer, "Senate Democrats Embrace Extreme Vetting Of Trump's Court Picks," The Washington Times , 7/4/17)

  • "Senate Democrats Are Turning To Procedural Tactics To Delay Confirmation Of President Trump's Appeals Court Picks …" "Senate Democrats are turning to procedural tactics to delay confirmation of President Trump's appeals court picks, and conservative groups are firing back with a new ad in Michigan trying to force two Democrats to clear a path for one embattled nominee. … The senators are flexing the chamber's 'blue slip' tradition, which gives individual lawmakers an exceptional amount of say in judges from their home state. Under the tradition, if both home-state senators don't return their blue slips, signaling acceptance, Senate leaders will hold off on action on that pick. Neither Ms. Stabenow nor Mr. Peters have returned their blue slips. Spokesmen for both senators say they're still studying the issues on the Larsen pick." (Alex Swoyer, "Senate Democrats Embrace Extreme Vetting Of Trump's Court Picks," The Washington Times , 7/4/17)

Minnesota's Democrat Senators Have Not Returned Blue Slips For A Judicial Nominee

In Minnesota, Neither Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Or Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) "Have Returned Their Blue Slips Signaling Acceptance Of Justice [David] Stras." "Justice Larsen and Minnesota Supreme Court Justice David Stras, who Mr. Trump picked for the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, had been seen as early test cases because both nominees come from states with two Democratic senators. Neither Sens. Amy Klobuchar nor Al Franken have returned their blue slips signaling acceptance of Justice Stras. Both senators are currently reviewing his record. 'That takes time - especially since he was not meaningfully consulted by the White House in advance of the nomination,' said Michael Dale-Stein, a spokesman for Mr. Franken." (Alex Swoyer, "Senate Democrats Embrace Extreme Vetting Of Trump's Court Picks," The Washington Times , 7/4/17)

Michigan's Democratic Senators Have Not Returned Blue Slips For A Judicial Nominee

M Live Headline: "State Supreme Court Justice Joan Larsen Still Waiting On Hearing For Federal Post" (Lauren Gibbons, "State Supreme Court Justice Joan Larsen Still Waiting On Hearing For Federal Post," M Live , 7/2/17)

  • "Joan Larsen's Nomination For A Seat On Federal Court Remains In Limbo" Despite The Fact That She Received A "Well Qualified" Rating From The American Bar Association. "Michigan Supreme Court Justice Joan Larsen's nomination for a seat on federal court remains in limbo as the U.S. Senate continues consideration of President Donald Trump's court picks. Larsen, who was named to the Michigan Supreme Court by Gov. Rick Snyder in 2015, was announced as Trump's choice for an opening on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati on May 8. She's not yet had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, the next step in the process towards a confirmation vote in the full Senate. Larsen has been given a 'well qualified' rating from the American Bar Association." (Lauren Gibbons, "State Supreme Court Justice Joan Larsen Still Waiting On Hearing For Federal Post," M Live , 7/2/17)
  • Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) And Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) Have Yet To Make A Decision To Advance Larsen's Nomination By Submitting Their "Blue Slips." "Stabenow said in a statement she is thoroughly reviewing Larsen's record prior to the Senate's consideration. 'I will continue to listen to public input and consult with Michigan's legal community to ensure that our state is served by highly qualified fair and impartial judges that put the people of Michigan first,' Stabenow said. A spokesperson for Peter's office said the senator just received all of the requested paperwork from Larsen this week and will be reviewing that material before making a final blue slip decision. Some conservatives have criticized Stabenow and Peters for not being quicker about giving Larsen their approval." (Lauren Gibbons, "State Supreme Court Justice Joan Larsen Still Waiting On Hearing For Federal Post," M Live , 7/2/17)

Democrats Have Been Stonewalling On FTC Nominees

The Daily Wire Headline: "Democrat Stonewalling On FTC Appointments Is Allowing This Obama-Era Lawsuit To Continue" (Aaron Bandler, "Democrat Stonewalling On FTC Appointments Is Allowing This Obama-Era Lawsuit To Continue," The Daily Wire , 7/6/17)

  • "The Senate Democrats' Stonewalling Of President Trump's Appointments Has Resulted In A Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Lawsuit Against Qualcomm Going Forward." "The Senate Democrats' stonewalling of President Trump's appointments has resulted in a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lawsuit against Qualcomm going forward. On January 17 - only a few days before President Obama left office - the FTC, in a 2-1 vote, filed a lawsuit against Qualcomm alleging that they violated the FTC Act in their efforts to maintain their status as 'the world's dominant supplier of baseband processors.'" (Aaron Bandler, "Democrat Stonewalling On FTC Appointments Is Allowing This Obama-Era Lawsuit To Continue," The Daily Wire , 7/6/17)
  • "There Are Currently Three Seats On The FTC That Have Remained Vacant Because The Senate Democrats Are Stalling Trump's Appointments To The Executive Branch. Without A Republican Majority On The FTC, The Lawsuit Against Qualcomm Will Continue." (Aaron Bandler, "Democrat Stonewalling On FTC Appointments Is Allowing This Obama-Era Lawsuit To Continue," The Daily Wire , 7/6/17)