FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 16, 2015

Speaker Heastie Calls on U.S. Senate to Stop Stalling
Loretta Lynch Confirmation


For almost 23 weeks, Loretta Lynch's confirmation as the next Attorney General of the United States has been held hostage by the U.S. Senate in an unconscionable attempt to interfere with President Obama's ability to move our country forward. During a time when this country is faced with enormous issues of social justice like the Eric Garner case and many others, the fact that the Senate is playing politics with this important nomination is beyond appalling.

We are confronting tremendous legal questions that cut to the very core of who we are as a nation, however the Senate is engaged in nothing more than petty bickering over issues that have nothing to do with this nomination. Loretta Lynch's qualifications to be our next Attorney General are stellar, and if Republicans in the Senate have any questions regarding her positions or her views, the time to ask them is during a confirmation proceeding.

But what is unacceptable is for these same Republicans to deny President Obama or his appointments the ability to do their jobs.

I stand in solidarity with civil rights leaders, citizens across the country and elected leadership in calling on the Senate to end this political grandstand and immediately confirm Ms. Lynch's appointment.

Her qualifications are beyond question, as is support for her candidacy.

As the Speaker of the New York State Assembly, I speak for millions of New Yorkers who are asking themselves when will the bickering and divisiveness in Washington stop? The President must be allowed to continue the job that has moved this country forward at a time of global uncertainty and economic challenges to our future.

I call on people of good conscience and on the elected leadership of our state and our country to send a resounding message to the Senate to leave the politics out of Loretta Lynch's confirmation.