Posted on 03/04/2005 10:28:14 AM PST by SmithL
WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is being vague about whether he will try to change Senate rules to allow timely approval of nearly all of President Bush's judicial nominees.
Two national interest groups, fearful that Frist, R-Tenn., will push the rules change to limit debate, have collected more than 75,000 petitions urging him and selected other GOP senators not to change a tradition of seeking broad support for each judicial candidate.
"We are really very hopeful that this incredibly destructive step won't be taken with majority support in the Senate," said Elliot Mincberg, general counsel of People For the American Way, a liberal organization focusing on civil and constitutional rights. His group has collected about 50,000 signatures on petitions.
Frist's handling of the nominations could be an indication of whether Republicans have enough clout to approve a U.S. Supreme Court nominee that many Democrats do not like. Also, Frist has not ruled out running for president in 2008, so many interest groups are closely watching his Senate leadership.
Frist said the Democratic minority in the Senate last year improperly blocked qualified judicial nominees, making them guilty of an "affront to the Constitution."
"I have a range of options," Frist said recently, "and can use those if need be at the appropriate time. I don't want to let you know what my strategy is."
Democrats in the last Congress used extended debate or the threat of it to prevent final votes on about 10 of Bush's nominees. Bush recently renominated seven of them.
Under current Senate rules, it takes 60 or more votes to cut off open-ended debate, which is called a filibuster. This year there are 55 Republicans, 44 Democrats and an independent who often votes with Democrats.
Frist could attempt a parliamentary ruling or a rules change to end floor debate and win approval for a judicial candidate who attracted 51 or more votes. In 1975, for example, the Senate reduced the number of members needed to end a long debate from 67 to 60, according to former Senate parliamentarian Floyd Riddick.
"I'm going to encourage restraint on both sides," Frist said, "and it may be that you don't have to change the rules."
Common Cause, a congressional watchdog group, also is collecting petitions - about 25,000 so far - to preserve the current Senate system allowing extended debate on judicial nominees.
Ending the current options for senators would be "abuse of power," Common Cause President Chellie Pingree said.
The conservative group Concerned Women for America (CWA) has urged Frist to "not hesitate" to change Senate rules when the Democratic minority blocks a vote.
"Whether senators love a nominee or not, it's time to vote them up or down," said Jan LaRue of CWA.
Also, the conservative Christian Coalition has made judge approvals a top priority.
"The Founding Fathers never intended that 60 senators would be needed to vote on a judicial nomination," the coalition said in a statement.
U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the senior Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said Republicans blocked more than 60 of President Clinton's judicial nominees, while Democrats blocked only 10 nominees of President Bush.
Bush's re-nomination this year of controversial nominees from last year, Leahy said, shows "the Bush Administration has again chosen confrontation over cooperation, and ideology over moderation."
Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., a member of the Judiciary Committee, said Bush again is pushing some "activist extremists" for judgeships. "The president looks like he is still more interested in picking fights than picking judges," Kennedy said.
U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said he would not vote to filibuster or block a "qualified nominee" by any president, and hopes Democrats take the same position.
The Senate has the right to change its rules for dealing with filibusters, Alexander said, but "I believe we should exercise that right cautiously." Like Frist, Alexander said he hopes Democrats will allow final floor votes on nominees so there would not need to be discussion of a rules change.
Frist would have to be able to count on 51 votes to change Senate rules or procedures. He has declined to say if he has 51 or more votes, but said: "I'm very, very comfortable where we are right now in terms of having all options at my disposal."
Will someone please stop in Barbara Boxer's office and get Bill Frist's testicles back???
Just wanted to remind him that he is a republican, in case he's forgotten.
1-877-762-8762
Frist is holding the nuclear option over the dems, saying "If we have a rules change, it will be fixed in place, and YOU don't know if you will get control of the senate, either. So what's it gonna be--give us these judges, or have a rules change?"
This is the first time I've thought Frist has played it just right.
I agree, Frist is really playing this well. Good cop bad cop. Send out "Republicans" like Specter and McCain to try and compromise while the same time holding the sword of damacles.
I dunno...I think his balls are in a little box in Babs Boxer's office...
Are they in barbara's lock box?
See post 7.
I heard that it is too late now to change the rules, that the rules needed to be changed at the beginning of the legislative season? Not stating that as a fact, just what I heard, I thought on "Special Report with Brit Hume"?
Anyone know for sure?
Hillary will soon tell Frist what he has decided.
Until then he will not say. :)
I agree.
At bare minimum, he needs to make the obstructionists mount a real filibuster before using the nuclear option. Let them lose some sleep.
Do it now.
I'm tired of this flirtation. Take on the DEMS NOW!
WE ELECTED YOU! We're the people that can get you elected! Not the MSM, not the moderates that will jump on the side they think has the momentum, not the Dems. WE are the ones that elected them to a majoity so DO IT!
Rush is giving them Hell right now.
Everyone start calling Frist. Call our Senators. It's time to demand accountability.
Have at it.
"Everyone start calling Frist. Call our Senators. It's time to demand accountability."
You can "demand" all you want...it's not going to do anything. The simple fact is that once these folks are elected they could care less what you think. They want your vote...not your voice.
First thing he asks is my zip code.
Evidently they are hearing from people!!!!
This man deludes himself into thinking he can win a single primary unless he steps up to the plate and acts like a republican.
If the rats get the senate back they will change the rules however they like and laugh at the pubs for being such a bunch of saps.
One option Frist has that I would like to see is, resign and go home, go away. Perhaps the senate could then find a MAN for the job.
Thanks for the "advice".
Think I'll pass on it.
THe time for that is over. The only compromise means appointing liberals and if that happens it will be a real setback for the movement.
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