Posted on 05/20/2005 8:19:26 AM PDT by Ellesu
Vitter WASHINGTON -- The national debate about President Bush's judicial nominations spilled into Louisiana on Thursday when one of the state's U.S. senators boldly challenged another on the Senate floor. In an unusual move, freshman U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., used his floor speech to call on senior colleague Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., to support Bush nominations and end filibusters blocking seven judges.
One of the nominees is Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen, to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which handles federal court appeals from Louisiana.
Democrats have blocked Owen's nomination four times since 2001. "We have judicial nominations not nominated months ago or weeks ago, but years ago," Vitter said. "That's not fair."
Vitter criticized Landrieu for supporting the filibuster of judicial nominee Miguel Estrada after expressing support of him during her re-election campaign. Vitter urged Landrieu to buck Democratic party leaders, calling the filibusters "obstructionism."
The predecessors of Vitter and Landrieu both watched the proceedings and said Vitter's remarks were in bad form.
Although Landrieu responded to Vitter's action later in the day by letter, his floor speech had little effect on Landrieu, who continued to oppose a Republican threat known as "the nuclear option" that would change the Senate rules and allow the approval of judicial nominations by a simple majority vote.
Bush has received the approval of 95 percent of his judicial nominations, Landrieu said in a statement.
"Democracies work best by consensus," Landrieu said. "Eliminating the voice of the minority on this issue or any other issue undermines this principle."
The Senate contains 55 Republicans, 44 Democrats and one Independent. Democrats can block Senate action with a filibuster, which takes 60 votes to break.
Allowing nominations with a simple majority would practically guarantee approval of all Republican nominations.
Democrats have threatened to tie up the Senate if Republicans vote for the nuclear option. Among legislation that would be affected are the federal highway and energy bills.
In her letter to Vitter, Landrieu said that Owen's appointment and those of a handful of others are being held up over process, not credentials. She urged him to consider the Senate's "proper role" in appointment and confirmation.
"We should be wary of any step that would relegate the Senate's historical role to a rubber stamp for an administration's wishes," she wrote.
Judge confirmations are life appointments, she said.
Although referring to a senator by name on the floor in a speech is not against the Senate rules, it traditionally isn't done, according to former Louisiana senators.
Former U.S. Sen. John Breaux, D-La., was watching the proceedings and said he was shocked by the move.
"I have never seen anything like that in my 32 years of Congress," Breaux said. "I think it was unprecedented and in bad taste."
Former U.S. Sen. J. Bennett Johnston, D-La., served in the Senate for 25 years ending in 1997. He also watched the speech.
"That is just not done," Johnston said.
Landrieu was not on the Senate floor when Vitter made his comments. She was participating in a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the energy bill. When told about the speech, Landrieu laughed the matter off.
"Of course, Sen. Vitter is new to the Senate, and he's learning the rules," Landrieu said.
In her letter to him she pointed out that when she was a junior senator, she relied on the examples set by senior and established colleagues.
The incident was the latest in what appears to be an eroding bond between Vitter and Landrieu.
They got off to a rocky start when Landrieu accused Vitter of hanging up on her election night, which Vitter denied. In January, they held a news conference announcing that they would work together for Louisiana.
Landrieu, however, recently withdrew her co-sponsorship of Vitter's primary piece of legislation to allow reimportation of drugs. Vitter wrongly took her words of support as sponsorship of the bill, Landrieu said. Vitter was unmistaken about her sponsorship, he said.
Wednesday, both senators said they intend to keep working together.
"I'm reaching out to Mary because she's in a unique position," Vitter said. "I hope her response is reaching across the aisle."
Landrieu is part of a bipartisan group of senators who have been trying to reach a compromise on the judicial issue. The group has been meeting throughout the week, including Thursday afternoon.
"In my mind, I'm going to continue to work with Senator Vitter on issues in our state," Landrieu said.
When I look at Mary Landrieu I immediately wonder how many guys she slept with to get in position to run for senate.
When I look at Mary Landrieu I immediately wonder if all the rumors I've heard about her being a homosexual are true.
I am glad to hear that someone is finally starting to name names. It is way overdue. These Senators need to be called out when they are doing wrong, and yes, by name.
These Senators act like they are a protected ruling class....I hope we continue to elect people like Senator Vitter who will name names.
Her husband was fearless on the white waters of North Arkansas -- he was always pushing the limits. I understand that they have adopted children.
I recently heard Mary on CNN come out strong for development of our nuclear power industry, with which I agree.
Many years ago, in my early life in Louisiana, I was a very rare Republican.
Levin is a doorknob anyway...........how the people in this state keep electing him is beyond me
Are we so used to Dumbocrats saying such stupid things that we don't even notice anymore?
""I have never seen anything like that in my 32 years of Congress," Breaux said. "I think it was unprecedented and in bad taste."
Former U.S. Sen. J. Bennett Johnston, D-La., served in the Senate for 25 years ending in 1997. He also watched the speech.
"That is just not done," Johnston said."
Senator Breaux has repeatedly shown that he is a just a Democrat. I used to have a higher opinion of him. And Mr. Johnston's statement is ludicrous. How about Harry Reid's statement calling President Bush a 'loser'? I don't remember Breaux or Johnston getting mad about that? Truth is, Senator Landrieu is one of the most unclassy members of the Senate. She's really not even that smart.
She is the daughter of a Louisiana political bigwig, right?
Good for Vitter!
Jindal needs to run for Senate again and take out this woman!
JIndal will either run again for governor, or stay in the House...IMHO, he could be the Speaker in 10 years..
Bravo Senator Vitters. This Senator sounds like a keeper to me, so let's hope he doesn't suffer Grahamitis over time.
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