© Haiyun Jiang
Senate Democrats are accusing Republicans of delaying action on President Obama's nominees, pointing to a new report that shows a decline in confirmations under the GOP Senate.
"The Republican Senate is making history for all the wrong reasons," Minority Leader Harry Reid
Harry Mason ReidBottom line Filibuster fight looms if Democrats retake Senate Biden unites Democrats — for now MORE (D-Nev.) said Friday. "They’ve shut down many Americans’ access to the justice system by more than doubling the number of judicial emergencies across the country."
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Reid's office released a report Friday from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) that found that the Senate had confirmed the fewest number of civilian nominees in nearly 30 years.
According to the CRS report, which details confirmation totals since 1987, the current Senate has confirmed a total of 198 civil nominees, including 17 for the judiciary.
Democrats have repeatedly knocked Republicans over the pace of nomination votes, particularly on judges.
Sen. Patrick Leahy
Patrick Joseph LeahyHillicon Valley: Russia 'amplifying' concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election Top Democrats press Trump to sanction Russian individuals over 2020 election interference efforts Furlough canceled for 13,000 immigration services workers MORE (D-Vt.), the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, blasted Republicans this week, writing on the American Constitution Society's blog that they have "dragged out — or blocked — the confirmation process for nominee after nominee."
Reid on Friday said that "Republicans’ refusal to do their job has real world consequences, too."
Republicans have defended the pace of nomination votes, saying Obama is being treated fairly. They note Obama has gotten more judges confirmed than President George W. Bush had at the same point in his tenure.
Democrats have made "do your job" a rallying cry as they pressure Republicans to take up Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland.
While more than a dozen GOP senators have met with Garland, only two — Sens. Mark Kirk
Mark Steven KirkLiberal veterans group urges Biden to name Duckworth VP On the Trail: Senate GOP hopefuls tie themselves to Trump Biden campaign releases video to explain 'what really happened in Ukraine' MORE (Ill.) and Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsCongress must act quickly to throw a lifeline to non-profit associations Progressive group launches presidential, Senate ads in battleground states OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Major drilling projects among dozens fast-tracked after Trump order | UN discrimination committee questions impact of US Arctic drilling on Indigenous people | Democratic lawmakers demand climate questions in presidential debates MORE (Maine) — publicly support giving him a hearing.
Though the GOP-controlled Senate is lagging behind on nomination confirmations, lawmakers have passed more legislation than the Democratic-controlled Senate did at the same point in the 113th, 112th or 111th congresses.
According to the CRS report, the Senate has passed 230 bills or joint resolutions since January 2015.
Senate leaders have battled back-and-forth over which party deserves credit for the uptick in legislative productivity, with Reid repeatedly saying Democrats have tried to be a "positive" minority.
"Of the things that they’ve passed, the energy bill and the number of things that they’ve been able to get through, because we’re not filibustering," he told reporters during a conference call Thursday.