Mississippi Litigation Review & Commentary : Mississippi Personal Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Phillip W. Thomas Law Firm : MS Litigation Review & Commentary

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According to this Washington Post article, Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama is blocking all presidential nominees from Senate votes in an attempt to secure federal funding for two pork projects for Alabama. The block apparently applies to everything from Court of Appeals judges to more mundane positions within federal departments. According to the article:

Shelby is seeking funds for the KC-135 Air Force tanker fleet, a project that could generate thousands of jobs in Alabama. He is also demanding that the administration restore funding cut from the budget for the FBI's Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center, a facility to test defenses against the improvised bombs used in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Shelby placed the hold because of "unaddressed national security concerns," according to a statement released by his office. He "has made the administration aware of these concerns and is willing to discuss them at any time." The statement said Shelby was holding up "several" nominees, but the White House and Reid's office placed the number at more than 70.

Shelby’s tactic is an example of the partisanship that it significantly damaging our county. This type of partisanship is the reason that many Americans have such a negative opinion about Congress. Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the partisanship is that it continues despite the American people disliking it.

Republicans have made it clear that they are not going to work with the President under any circumstances. In doing so, Republicans are putting partisan politics over the American people. Republicans no doubt believe that this strategy will return the party to power in Washington (if they ever lost it). It will be sickening if they are right, since it will encourage more of the same in the future.