Grassley: New senators should have a say on nominations

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) objected to the Senate considering 12 judicial nominations in the lame duck.

{mosads}Grassley said the Senate shouldn’t vote on judicial nominations during the lame duck because it doesn’t give newly elected senators a say.

“What we typically don’t do is report judges out of committee in a lame duck and then confirm them the same year,” Grassley said on the Senate floor Saturday. “That reason is simple, so our newly elected senators have their voices heard.”

Grassley’s comments came as the Senate spent the day setting up votes for next week on 24 of President Obama’s executive and judicial nominations.

Grassley serves as the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee and said he objected to the votes that will occur on the 12 judicial nominees.

“I am raising this objection today to protect the rights of newly elected members,” Grassley said.