Posted on 11/13/2003 2:02:59 PM PST by Amityschild
Senate Republicans are planning a second consecutive night of floor debate over judicial nominees, GOP leaders said during the wee hours of last nights marathon debate.
It may well go through to the next night, said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.). The 30 hours was something for planning purposes, he said, referring to the original intended length of the debate, which began at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
A number of freshman senators have volunteered to push debate beyond the original cut-off time of midnight Thursday. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) have expressed an interest, said Senate Republican Conference Chair Rick Santorum (R-Pa.). Ill be glad to come in and keep it going, said Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) after participating in a 2:30 a.m. press conference with conservative groups.
Santorum said that there was no reason to halt debate at midnight and that the only hard-and-fast deadline was 9 a.m. Friday when the Republicans could bring up cloture votes filed on Wednesday.
If they want, they can talk until 8:59, Santorum said.
Many of the senators who may press on with the debate also played a central role in Wednesday nights efforts. Both Graham and Chambliss left the Capitol after 3 a.m. Thursday. Other Republicans continued later still with a grueling schedule of press conferences held every hour in the Mansfield Room of the Capitol Building.
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) took part in a news conference at 3:30 a.m. and Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) was set to appear at 4:30 a.m. along with four of his staff members who had opted to stay awake for the event.
Great idea! I think Don Nickles is wonderful and hate to see him leave. J.C. would be an awesome Senator. I wonder if he would consider it?
Ditto. Also continue to be very impressed with Santorum from Pennsylvania. He was my pick for Majority Leader when Frist was selected, and I still think he would have been a better choice.
Coleman, who made a marginal impression on me during election '02, has turned out to be a giant-in-the-making.
Wonder if she talks in her sleep? "Oh, Madeleine."
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