- The Washington Times - Tuesday, December 10, 2013

With less than two weeks in session before the end of 2013, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said he doesn’t understand why the Senate is focusing on a string of non-emergency presidential nominations rather than must-pass legislation like a budget, defense policy bill and farm bill.

“I question the way the Senate is being run,” the Kentucky Republican told reporters Tuesday afternoon. “With two weeks left before Christmas, my question is: Why are we doing what we’re doing?”

The Senate voted Tuesday morning to confirm Patricia Millet to the federal appeals court in Washington, the first to be approved under the chamber’s new filibuster rules.

Mr. McConnell speculated that Majority Leader Harry Reid is focusing on nominations to avoid a discussing Iran sanctions, which President Obama has urged Congress to postpone while talks with Iran are ongoing.

“We ought to be turning to the defense bill and opening it up for amendments as we’ve always done in the past,” he said. “This is a rather transparent attempt to prevent a vote on enhanced Iran sanctions.”

• Jacqueline Klimas can be reached at jklimas@washingtontimes.com.

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