Posted on 05/13/2005 12:05:44 PM PDT by seamus
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER
Upon completion of action on the pending highway bill, the Senate will begin debate on fair up or down votes on judicial nominations. As is the regular order, the Leader will move to act on judge nominations sent to the full Senate by the Judiciary Committee in the past several weeks. Priscilla Owen, to serve as a judge for the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, and Janice Rogers Brown, to serve as a judge for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, will be the nominees of focus.
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.
There will be a full and vigorous Senate floor debate that is too important for parliamentary tactics to speed it up or slow it down until all members who wish have had their say. All members are encouraged to ensure that rhetoric in this debate follows the rules, and best traditions, of the Senate.
It is time for 100 Senators to decide the issue of fair up or down votes for judicial nominees after over two years of unprecedented obstructionism. The Minority has made public threats that much of the Senate’s work will be shut down. Such threats are unfortunate.
The Majority Leader has proposed his Fairness Rule: up to 100 hours of debate, and then an up or down vote on circuit and Supreme Court nominations. Further, the Fairness Rule would eliminate the opportunity for blockade of such nominees at the Judiciary Committee. And finally, it will make no changes to the legislative filibuster.
If Senators believe a nominee is qualified, they should have the opportunity to vote for her. If they believe she is unqualified, they should have the opportunity to vote against her.
Members must decide if their legacy to the Senate is to eliminate the filibuster’s barrier to the Constitutional responsibility of all Senators to advise and consent with fair, up or down votes.
-30-
He better ~ I'm exhausted and so tired of writing these spineless Senators! This post just made my day.
No we have heard second or third hand rumors no official statements. People seem to believe that the GOP victories of late brought in a dictatorship others are just reflexively anti-GOP and criticize it no matter what the truth is.
I know, what do you want to bet that the Sunday FUNNY programs have yet again: Joe Biden, MCCain, Boxer, Lugar, Specter, Hatch, etc...Leahy, Kennedy, Schumer, Levin...Chafee, Hagel...
The Constitutional authority for this includes all other mominations the President makes. Not just judiciary appointments. It would include the Bolton nomination, too.
Just stirring the pot here.
"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..."
My question is: How many ways are there to have fair up or down votes on judicial nominations? Why does Dr. Frist still have to gaggle on about continuing to discull blah, blah, blah...
Such language doesn't even strengthen his position for actual negotiation if he wanted to negotiate.
He'll poop.
Talk, talk, talk...etc. etc. etc. ad nauseum...
LOL!
Believe it when I see it. The republicans have let me down one too many times.
Repeat: Frist's office just announced a "background briefing" for reporters in his office at 3:30 p.m. Check the wires at 4:30 or so to see the stories that come out with "sources close to Senator Frist" discussing the nuclear option.
And that compromise will result in:
Democrats will have a full week to blast President Bush and his nominees on all media with no response from the Pink Panty RINO Brigrade;
Only one appellate nominee will reach the floor, the other nine will be "held in committee" until the democrats decide;
The RINO Party will be calling your home/soliciting for monetary support for this "critical" matter, so the the "valiant Republicans have enough resources to go into battle".
LLOL NOT ONE THIN DIME, CHICKENSH!T PINK PANTY RINOS!
Good approach. Give all the Senators a chance to speak. Doesn't come off as heavy-handed that way.
Bulletin from the National Weather Service. A freak front is moving in and hell appears to be freezing over. Now, of course, we will have the Sunday shows full of RINOs explaining how they just can't in good conscience destroy the working rules and traditions of the Senate, etc. And, of course, Trent Lott working hard to get 6 traitor RINO signatures on his and Nelson's "compromise" solution.
btw, can anyone confirm if this is a legit pr?
Amen and it's about time. Go for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
$10 says it won't happen. Frist will find a reason to wimp out as usual.
If we are out of power fifteen years from now, it won't matter what we do today anyway. They would end the filibuster so fast if the shoes were reversed in ten years, it would make your head spin. ANd that is regardless of whether we have the guts to do it now. And they will get rid of filibusters for everything, not just the judicial appointments.
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