Politics
Miers blasted for responses to Senate questionnaire


Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania) and Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vermont), the chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Judiciary Committee, criticized U.S. Supreme Court nominee Harriet E. Miers for incomplete responses she gave on her questionnaire.

In a letter [Link], Specter and Leahy asked Miers to submit more information. In public, Leahy said some of her responses were "inadequate" and "insulting" to members of the committee. Specter also said the answers were incomplete.

On the questionnaire, Miers claimed to have knowledge of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and sovereign immunity through her work as the former chairwoman of the Texas Lottery Commission. She failed to detail her experience on tribal issues, however.

Miers is set to go before the Senate committee for her confirmation hearings starting November 7.

Get the Story:
Senators Assail Miers's Replies, Ask for Details (The Washington Post 10/20)
pwpwd
Miers Is Asked to Redo Reply to Questions (The New York Times 10/20)
pwnyt

Miers Senate Questionnaire:
Text | PDF

Relevant Links:
Texas State Lottery - http://www.txlottery.org
Judicial Nominations, White House - http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/judicialnominees

Related Stories:
Supreme Court nominee Miers cites tribal experience (10/19)
Bush to tout Miers' knowledge of tribal sovereignty (10/17)
Supreme Court nominee Miers backed gaming limits (10/12)
U.S. Supreme Court nominee's gaming work at issue (10/07)
DOJ releases Indian gaming law proposal (10/6)
DOJ gaming proposal shows changes to Johnson Act (10/05)
DOJ proposal would make Oklahoma games illegal (10/04)
Supreme Court pick described as loyal, dedicated (10/4)
Bush names woman as O'Connor's replacement (10/3)
Roberts confirmed and sworn in as chief justice (9/30)
Bush said to be near new pick for Supreme Court (9/29)
Senate committee approves Roberts by 13-5 vote (9/23)
Opinion: DOJ proposal is economic termination (09/21)
Heffelfinger won't define terms in gaming proposal (09/21)
Roberts mentions Indian law work on final day (9/19)
DOJ proposes major change in Indian gaming law (09/16)
Supreme Court nominee Roberts promises 'no agenda' (9/13)
Roberts set for Supreme Court confirmation hearings (9/12)
Native Hawaiian work an issue for Roberts (9/7)
Roberts tapped for chief justice position (9/6)
NARF lawyer fears Roberts will lean conservative (07/21)
Bush names John G. Roberts to Supreme Court (7/20)
Schumer asked about Roberts' views on Natives (7/20)
Rehnquist slaps down retirement rumors (7/15)
NCAI's Hall on picking a Supreme Court justice (7/13)
Mark Trahant: Appoint Indian to U.S. Supreme Court (7/11)
Key Republican speculates on Supreme Court makeup (7/11)
Harjo: O'Connor trampled on Native religious rights (7/8)
Republicans prepare for Rehnquist resignation (7/8)
O'Connor resigns from nation's highest court (7/5)
Justice's tenure filled with key Indian law cases (7/5)