Upon completion of action on the pending highway bill, the Senate will begin debate on fair up or down votes on judicial nominations. ...This had better not be a hollow threat. Senator Frist's future career in politics is on the line.
The Majority Leader will continue to discuss an appropriate resolution of the need for fair up or down votes with the Minority Leader. If they can not find a way for the Senate to decide on fair up or down votes on judicial nominations, the Majority Leader will seek a ruling from the Presiding Officer regarding the appropriate length of time for debate on such nominees. After the ruling, he will ensure that every Senator has the opportunity to decide whether to restore the 214-year practice of fair up or down votes on judicial nominees; or, to enshrine a new veto by filibuster that both denies all Senators the opportunity to advise and consent and fundamentally disturbs the separation of powers between the branches.
Friday, May 13, 2005
The final straw
Republican Majority Leader Senator Frist has apparently reached the end of his patience and has lined up the 50 votes to kill the Democratic filibusters of President Bush's nominees for federal judges. Shannen Coffin at National Review Online is reporting the following statement from Senator Frist,
