Grassley says Democrat leader is holding up court appointments

The Chief Justice of the U-S Supreme Court gave his annual “State of the Courts” speech a few days ago, criticizing the U-S Senate for its foot-dragging on the approval of new federal judges. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s well aware of the problems the delays are causing.Grassley says he and Iowa’s other U-S Senator, Tom Harkin, have been very active for years in their efforts to get judicial appointees approved quickly. Grassley says he knows there are federal bench vacancies in many states, including Iowa.Grassley, a republican, says court appointments are being held up in the Senate by “Daschle obstructionism,” as he blames South Dakota democrat Senator Tom Daschle for the lengthy delays.On another topic, Senator Grassley says he made -no- resolutions this New Year’s Eve, other than to continue working on the promise he made himself on December 31st of 1998. That year, he vowed to get himself in better physical shape by jogging two miles every day, and he says he doesn’t want to make new resolutions until he’s sure he’s followed through on this one.President Bush revealed little about his resolutions, only that he was going to try and eat fewer cheeseburgers in 2002.