Delaying the confirmation of the Senate’s assertion of National Security Security at risk

The Senate left Washington for the August holiday after it failed to work on more than 150 candidates for the presidency who are waiting for his assertion to hold large government positions, and many of them are necessary for national security.

The floor discussion explained that the members of the Senate have not learned lessons from history about the mistake he would have to continue these delays.

The Senate needs to stop the procedural delay and give these candidates a vote or down immediately. Talking about changing the rules is now very little, very late – about 25 years later. There is no time to discuss the rules now as Congress becomes a consumer through a financing battle and the candidates are still not considered in mind. Change the rules later – vote on candidates now.

Article Two, Article 2 of the Constitution provides for the Senate the role of “advice and approval” for the nominations presented by the President, and the members of the Senate must carry out their constitutional duty. Voting yes or not, up or down, on the controversial candidates based on their qualifications. These voices are not delayed due to the relevant policy or financing issues.

Critical higher positions should not leave vacant because unexpected conditions may leave the United States vulnerable to national security threats with no one to respond, after the Senate has not confirmed. We need all hands on the deck, ready for anything that comes on our way.

History has shown that similar delays in the assertion of the candidates Tricka is at risk before – a warning story for the Senate now.

On September 11, 2001, there were many unpopular high positions related to national security due to the delay of the Senate confirmation. This left America to be shortened to respond to the state of national emergency. At that time, we said, “We will never forget,” but it seems that the Senate has forgotten. The twenty -fourth anniversary of this terrible day comes just one week after the return of Senators, yet they did not make this call.

Many of these main positions related to national security are still not confirmed today because the Senate is unwilling or unable to do its job. These include under trustees and assistants in the state, defense, treasury, internal security, energy and transportation. These positions are responsible for duties, including the critical infrastructure of nuclear security, cybersecurity, anti -espionage, electrical network security and transportation.

Every day it passes without the Senate’s confirmation of these candidates eating America’s ability to respond quickly to crises. The absence of leadership in these jobs sends a disturbing message that political conflicts are more important than the government’s effectiveness and the safety of its citizens.

The average assertion time has gone from about three months in the Kennedy administration to about nine months for the last departments.

The party has become back and forth like a certainly confirmed destruction, with “nuclear options”, dream, fighting fire with fire – choose your weapon when it comes to the terms used to justify the delay rather than doing what is in the interest of the country.

Party is why reforming the Senate confirmation process is very difficult. The old phrase as the issue of “who is washing his revolution” applies here. Senate members are ready to work to change the rules when their interests are at stake because their party and their president’s candidates are the ones who are late. But the shoe will inevitably be on the other foot and the rules will also be applied to the opposition party candidates.

Recommendations were recommended 25 years ago, but unfortunately, there was not enough political or courageous will to act at that time. The suggestions included not only reducing the number of situations that require the confirmation of the Senate but also those that the president nominated, so that both branches approved some of their constitutional powers on an equal footing.

Both sides must agree to play with the same rules and have a 90 -day window when the president nominates a candidate for a confirmation vote. This would allow enough time for Senate members to meet the candidates, obtain hearings, and their reports committees, either positively or not, and vote up or down.

With the completion of the holiday, the Senate must put the interests of the nation on partisanship and give all candidates to wait a vote without further delay. To do this, Senators do not need to change the rules – only their behavior.

Carroll Bloved was the deputy director of the Procine -Foundation Presidential Initiative from 2000 to 2003.