New Republican Senate Leaders Appointed

By Learned Foote- Talk Radio News Service

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the Senate Republican Leader, introduced two new GOP leaders on Thursday. Both were elected without opposition. 

Senator John Thune (R-N.D.), replaced Senator John Ensign (R-Nev.) after Ensign resigned from his post as chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. Thune had previously served as the vice-chairman of the policy committee. 

Thune said that he and his committee will craft policy to counteract the Democrats in Congress, who he said are “proposing the largest tax-increase in American history, spending at unprecedented levels, exploding the debt, putting on a new energy tax, nationalizing one-sixth of the economy with the health care system, taking ownership interest in now over 500 companies, [and] calling for more unionization.” 

Thune also hopes to present a “forward-looking, positive agenda for America’s future.”  

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) stepped into Thune's vacated position to become Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, where she had already served at the leadership table. Murkowski emphasized the need to communicate the GOP message to the American people. 

Referencing the recent scandals surrounding the Republican Party, including the extra-marital affair that led Ensign to resign as chairman of the policy committee, McConnell said that he and the Senate Republicans will “do the people’s business; we don’t intend to be distracted by any other issues that may be out there.” 

Republicans: Democrats “playing politics” over judicial nominee

A group of Republican Senators headed by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Penn.) chastised Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) for what they viewed as “playing politics with a judicial nomination. The nomination of Judge Robert Conrad to be on the fourth district circuit court of appeals is currently being held up by Sen. Leahy who has yet to give Judge Conrad a hearing.

The Senate Republicans which included Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.), Sen Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah.) all focused their attention on the lack of fairness that they view towards Judge Conrad. Hatch, who has been in the senate 32 years, said that because both Senators Dole and Burr are supporting Judge Conrad that holding a hearing should not even be an issue.

“Judge Conrad has the support of both the senators (from North Carolina) that doesn’t happen all that often.” Hatch added that by the senates judiciary committee not holding a hearing it “denigrates the judicial process.”

A key sticking point that infuriated Republicans was that the hearing has been in limbo for now 338 days, a testament to the strife that is currently on going in the Senate. When asked what she viewed as the reason for the hold up Sen. Dole said that it must have “something to do with politics.”

Judge Robert Conrad was nominated by President Bush 338 days ago to be seated on the North Carolina fourth circuit court of appeals. Conrad has previously been confirmed by the Senate to be a U.S. Attorney in 2001 and has been unanimously rated “well qualified” by the American Bar Association.

Senate Republican leaders pray for Ted Kennedy, and claim that Democrats don’t put the troops first

At a media availability in the U.S. Capitol, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the Senate Republicans had a somber Policy Committee lunch, where they said a prayer for Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and his family. He then moved to address what is happening this week in the Senate, saying that the fundamental question is what to do about funds for troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

McConnell said the Republican’s are concerned about securing the funds requested by the president. Budget Committee Ranking Member Senator Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) said the Senate will be doing a budget resolution this week, but that the Democrats “have not shared any of the numbers with our side of the aisle,” which he says reflects poor taste. He said it is pretty apparent by both resolutions that passed in the House and the Senate that this resolution will have a massive tax increase for working Americans, and it will pass the mark of one trillion dollars in discretionary spending. He said he believes the American people had the right to expect that Congress can hold the line, but that “the other side of the aisle doesn’t believe in holding the line at all in spending.” He said the budget also makes no effort to “address the impending fiscal meltdown of this country as a result of the cost of entitlements,” and that it will pass down the current economic burdens to the next generation.

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Ensign (R-Nev.) said the Democrats are not putting the troops first, and are loading up the supplemental bill with items inviting a veto. He also said Democrats are complaining about gas prices, and are blocking the U.S. from increasing its domestic supply. McConnell echoed that the U.S., as the third largest producer of oil and gas in the world, should produce more supply from American wells to bring down the price of oil. He also hopes for a compromise in crafting a bill for veteran’s benefits.