Statement by John Fortier on the Senate's Passage of Executive Branch Nomination Reforms

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- John Fortier, Director of the Bipartisan Policy Center's Democracy Project, issued the following statement today regarding the Senate's passage of two measures to improve the presidential appointments process and the Senate's confirmation of presidential nominees:

"The Senate has acted to make much needed improvements to the presidential appointment and Senate confirmation process.  For many years, the presidential appointments process has been broken.  The confirmation time has lengthened, nominees face a confusing and vitriolic process, well-qualified people have been discouraged from serving in government, and the Senate has spent too much of its energy on an ever growing number of presidential nominees.

"The measures passed yesterday reduce the number of lower level appointees who require Senate confirmation, streamline the process for other nominees, and create a commission to rationalize the confusing maze of financial disclosure forms and background checks for presidential appointees.  After many years of bipartisan calls for reform to the presidential appointments process, the Senate has acted."

In a letter earlier this month, a bipartisan group of former Senators and Cabinet Secretaries associated with the Bipartisan Policy Center - Secretary Dan Glickman, Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, Senator Pete Domenici and Senator Trent Lott - endorsed the Senate's efforts.  Click here to read the letter.

About the Bipartisan Policy Center:

Founded in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole and George Mitchell, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is a non-profit organization that drives principled solutions through rigorous analysis, reasoned negotiation, and respectful dialogue. With projects in multiple issue areas, the BPC combines politically-balanced policymaking with strong, proactive advocacy and outreach.  For more information, please visit our website: www.bipartisanpolicy.org.

SOURCE Bipartisan Policy Center

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