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U.S. Senator Phil Gramm made the following statement Thursday regarding Rep. Ron Clark's appointment to the federal bench:
"Following a recommendation I made with Sen. Hutchison, President Bush nominated Ron Clark to be a district court judge in the Eastern District of Texas on January 23, 2002.
"Three other Texas judges sent by the White House on that date had their hearings in the spring and were confirmed and appointed to the bench prior to Rep. Clark having a hearing. The Democrats delayed this nomination with a clear intent to disenfranchise Texas voters by disrupting the upcoming election. Sen. Hutchison and I believed that Rep. Clark would have his hearing sometime in the spring and be confirmed like the three other judges, allowing time for the choosing of a replacement, and an orderly election.
"By earmarking Rep. Clark's nomination for delay so many months beyond the others, there has clearly been a conscious effort to disenfranchise Texas voters. I do not believe this effort will be successful."
CONTACT: DON STEWART
(202)224-0704
stew@gramm.senate.gov