“It’s time for a vote.”

The Michigan Chapter of Citizens for a Sound Economy joined a growing list of Michigan leaders, organizations, and citizens in a call for Senator Levin and Stabenow to end their obstruction of the four of President Bush’s nominations to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

“Enough is enough. It’s time for a vote in the full Senate,” said Harry Verhyser, Chairman of the Economics Department at Walsh College and member of the CSE Board of Advisors. “At every turn, Levin and Stabenow seem to find a new way to delay the consideration of these nominations. And in so doing, they are costing Michigan its voice on this important court and denying justice to citizens from across the 6th Circuit.”

The four nominations up for consideration are Richard Griffin, currently serving on the Michigan Court of Appeals; David McKeague, currently a U.S. District Court judge in the Western District of Michigan; Susan Bieke Neilson, currently a judge on the Circuit Court in Wayne County; and Henry Saad, currently a member of the Michigan Court of Appeals. Bush nominated Griffin on June 26, 2002. Saad, Neilson, and McKeague were nominated on November 8, 2001.

Earlier this summer, CSE was part of a coalition that solicited thousands of petition signatures from Michigan residents and held well-attended rallies asking the U.S. Senate to move forward with the nominations. In response, Senate leaders held a hearing on Judge Henry Saad’s nomination in late July.

Since that time, however, Levin and Stabenow have once again succeeded in delaying consideration of the four nominations. A committee hearing on Judge David McKeague’s hearing, set for last week, was delayed at their request. And a committee vote on Judge Saad’s nomination, scheduled for today, was also delayed at their request.

“A smoothly running justice system is a critical part of our society and our economy,” said Verhyser. “Levin and Stabenow shouldn’t be allowed to abuse the confirmation process as they have. It’s time for them to drop their obstruction and let the nominations move forward. Or, in the alternative, it’s time for the Senate to once again take decisive action over their petty, partisan objections. Either way, it’s time for the full Senate to due its constitutional duty and consider these nominations.”