Statement of Senator Levin on the Cloture Vote on Judge Samuel Alito

While I had expected that the Senate would move directly to an up-or-down vote on Judge Alito’s nomination to the Supreme Court without a vote on cloture, because I strongly oppose this nomination as I explained in my remarks last week and because the filibuster has been a time-honored and accepted part of the checks and balances on the President’s appointment powers, I will vote against cloture on this nomination.