The Judiciary Committee chairman also raised an argument he has made before: that the outgoing Democratic-controlled Senate pushed through the confirmations of 11 judges in last year’s lame-duck session — nominees that Grassley said should have been considered at the start of this year.

“Had we not confirmed those 11 judicial nominees during the lame duck last year, we’d be roughly at the same pace we were for judicial confirmations this year compared to 2007,” Grassley said. “So put that in your pipe and smoke it, the senator from New York. So we’re moving at a reasonable pace.”

Schumer retorted: “Without smoke, Mr. President, I yield the floor.”