president, today the senate will finally consider the nomination of michael simon to fill a judicial emergency vacancy for the district court for the district of oregon. mr. simon is one of the most highly regarded lawyers in the country. he spent five years as a trial attorney at the department of justice during the reagan administration, including a stint as a federal prosecutor, three years of volunteer judge pro tempore on an oregon county court. the -- this nomination has had the strong support of his home state senators, senator wyden and senator merkley, since he was nominated nearly a year ago, and he's twice been reported by the judiciary committee with signature bipartisan support. i mention that because tra durablely somebody like this would have gone through almost the first day after he was reported. i do thank the majority leader and the republican leader for finally scheduling this vote. but it is unfortunate the republicans objected to considering this nomination when it was reported last year. that meant it had to be taken back, we will to spent the time, the money --

the rights of consumers, but these cases can be hard and time consuming to bring and that's what michael simon did and did so well. working on behalf of the department of justice on the case of united states versus american airlines, mr. simon successfully argued for extending the reach of the sherman act to include monopolization and attempted monopolization. and in my view, this extension is one that benefits consumers each and every day across this country, and frankly, to have someone on the bench who has this kind of expertise in fighting monopolies, in protecting the rights of consumers is a very special qualification that i would simply commend to the senate as we consider the nomination of michael simon. now, throughout his work, both in the public sector and in private practice, mr. simon has been an active member of our community. in fact, i have had many conversations with him in his capacity as the immediate past president of congregation beth israel in my hometown where he constantly is the leader of the congregation reaching out to conscript volunteers for a host of projects, par

2011, the senate proceed to executive session to consider calendar numbers 34, the nomination of michael simon to be united states district judge for the district of oregon, an hour of debate divided in the usual form, upon the use or yielding back of that time the senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on calendar number 34. following this vote the senate recess until 2:15 p.m. to meet for party conferences. at 2:15 p.m. the senate consider calendar number 183, leon e. panetta, to be secretary of defense for our country, two hours of debate divided upon the two leaders or designees. upon the use or yielding back of that time the senate proceed to vote with no intervening action or debate on calendar number 183. the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid on the table, no intervening action or debate, and no further motions be in order to the nominations, any statements related to the nomination be printed in the record, the president be immediately notified of the senate's action and the senate then resume legislative. further, that following this vote the senate

right-hander michael wright from east carolina in the third round. heil simon in the fourth round. -- heil simon in the fourth round. -- kyle simon in the fourth round. nolan and rym old on the rhine and fouled territory. he makes the grad. only one out. and in the fifth, it is rhinegold again. -- rimold again. that has wasted no time sharing the credit after its first win of the season. >> it feels good anytime you get four runs out on the board and is still pretty comfortable. defense was great today, adam jones making spectacular catches and making great plays in left field. -- and -- nolan making great plays in left field. >> hoping for a far better debut with the o's as a starter. guillermo will be their starter. if you had planned to cut out of work a little early next week to watch tighter around the opening round at the u.s. open, time to redirect your focus back at the office. he withdrew today -- citing lingering problems. here is me and achilles in the masters earlier this year. -- he hurt his knee and achilles in the masters earlier this year. the u

the question is on the nomination of michael h. simon to be united states district judge. the clerk will call the roll. vote:

the question is on the nomination of michael h. simon to be united states district judge. the clerk will call the roll. vote: vote: vote: vote: the aries 6 4, the nays are 356789 the nomination is confirmed. under the previous order, the senate stphapbdz recess until when they return they will begin two hours of debate on the nomination of leon panetta to be the new defense secretary. the final vote will be set at 4:15 later today. until the senate returns we'll show you mr. panetta's hearing before the senate armed services committee. he addressed a number of issues including withdrawal of troops in afghanistan, united states relationship with pakistan and the defense department budget. this was chaired by carl levin of michigan and we'll show you as much as we can until the senate gavels back in at about 2:15 eastern. >> good morning, everybody. this morning the committee meets to consider the nomination of leon panetta to be secretary of defense. director panetta is no stranger to testifying before congress. over the course of his long and distinguished career in public