Senate Committee -- Without Democrats -- Votes to Limit Filibusters

Associated Press/Fox News ^ | 6/24 | AP

[NYC Republican]

WASHINGTON — A Senate committee with all its Democratic members absent voted to limit filibusters (search) of President Bush's judicial nominees (search) Tuesday, a move Republicans hope will usher future federal judges through the Senate faster, even if Democrats want to stop them.

Democrats oppose changing Senate filibuster rules for judicial nominees, but Republicans have a one-vote majority on the Senate Rules Committee (search) and expected to win Tuesday's committee vote in any case. Democrats are expected to fight the measure on the Senate floor.

The Rules Committee officially voted 10-0 for the measure, which would reduce the number of senators needed to force a vote on a judicial nominee with each successive vote until only a 51-member majority is needed.

Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota had another commitment he had to attend to, and Democrats did not organize a boycott of the vote, spokeswoman Ranit Schmelzer said.

Senate Rules Committee Chairman Trent Lott, R-Miss., noted that all 10 GOP members showed up for the morning vote.

"It's hard to get people to a meeting between 9:30 and 10," Lott said. "We got ours here. The others were going to come but didn't get here by the time we finished our work."

All nine Senate Democrats -- Daschle, ranking Rules Committee Democrat Chris Dodd of Connecticut, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, Dianne Feinstein of California, Charles Schumer of New York, John Breaux of Louisiana, Mark Dayton of Minnesota and Richard Durbin of Illinois -- missed the meeting.

"There's no mystery in what will happen with today's vote," said Schumer in a written statement. "But when it comes to the floor, I hope and believe that at least a few of my friends from across the aisle will see the light."

[CyberAnt]

They're dead - even if it's a tie - the VP will break it in our favor.

I believe the dems knew this was coming because of the letters several of the dems sent to Bush - TELLING him he should consult with THEM regarding the judicial nominees. That is totally AGAINST the Constitution. But ... I have wondered if those letters was a last ditch attempt to get control of Bush ... ROTFLOL these people are so stupid.

[ken5050]

precedent is whatever you make of it, or not....no more, no less...but it will be fun to see Byrd go ballistic.....we might even have a vacancy in the Senate from WV....

[CyberAnt]

How do you know they need 60 votes to change the rules ...?? Can you point me to that rule please ...??

[nyconse]

Daschle is on the phone right now trying to get fake republicans to vote against the measure.

[deport]

Yep, you are correct. The info I was looking at was back from 2000. He was replaced by Alan Frumin and I'm not sure who is there now.... Frumin or someone else

[TomGuy]

Sorry, but your rant lost me....

What does Lott's Rules committee voting 10-0 on rules change have to do with Clinton's impeachment?

You need some sleep or coffee or something....

[Lazamataz]

I have a valid authenticator code. National Command Authority has authorized the release of nuclear weapons on the DemonRATs.

Under the two man rule, steveegg has authorized the use of the Nuclear Option on the DemonRats. My number is fifth from the top. (Tapping keyboard for a few seconds) It is also a valid authenticator code. I, Lazamataz, agree that the order to use the Nuclear Option on the DemoCraps has been issued by the President. The order to strike is given.

[ijcr]

How about Bill Lan Lee, Cal Thomas wrote this March 12, 1999.

HAVING FLOUTED MARITAL, civil and criminal laws, President Clinton apparently believes it is a much smaller deal to renominate a man to head the Justice Department's civil rights division who illegally has held the post for more than a year in violation of long-standing federal law limiting "acting'' officials to 120 days.

Though the Senate refused to confirm Bill Lan Lee in 1997 because of his support of racial preferences, the president has renominated him to the post. This blatantly political act is part of an administration strategy to again portray Republicans as anti-civil rights. It's not enough that Clinton and fellow liberal Democrats enjoy stereotyping Republicans as the party of "the rich'' who are against Social Security and Medicare simply because they oppose open-ended spending by the White House and all legitimate proposals to reform and save the programs.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch has suggested he might not hold hearings on the Lee renomination because the Senate has already considered his qualifications and found him unsatisfactory. It is to be hoped that Hatch holds his ground.

The law on quotas and preferences has been settled. The government may not discriminate in favor of or against people on the basis of race or color except in very limited and exceptional circumstances. During his tenure at the Justice Department, Lee has effectively ignored the law. Instead, he has ruled ex cathedra, as liberal Supreme Court justices have done, with little regard for the Constitution.


Some examples: In testimony before Hatch's committee in December 1997, Lee refused to agree to halt the Civil Rights Division's challenge to California's Proposition 209, which bans imposed racial preferences, even though the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals had rebuffed the challenge. Seeing no conflict with his promise to the committee to "comply fully with the oath to protect and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States,'' Lee became his own judge when he raised concerns about the will of a majority of California voters. Lee said that Proposition 209 is "a distortion of the decision-making process in the state of California'' and added, "I expect that the administration will remain constant in its position.''

About Supreme Court decisions, Lee has declared that rather than setting precedents to condemn racial preferences in nearly all circumstances, he regards them as an "affirmation of affirmative action on a limited and measured basis.'' But Lee's decisions have been anything but limited and measured. The Civil Rights Division has failed to dismantle any of the hundreds of racial classifications that permeate the federal government. It continues to promote race and sex classifications in contracting, employment, voting and education.

In 1995 the Supreme Court ruled that all racial classifications -- whether imposed by federal, state or local governments -- are subject to the strictest constitutional scrutiny. But throughout last year Lee continued to defend them as part of the administration's efforts to preserve a vast array of race and gender preferences in federal contracting.

The Civil Rights Division filed briefs in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit defending the constitutionality of contracting preferences on the basis of race and sex in Houston Contractors Association vs. Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County. Lee also filed a brief in the Sixth Circuit in Safeco Insurance Co. of America vs. City of White House, Tenn., defending an Environmental Protection Agency regulation requiring contractors to "assure that small, minority and women's businesses are used when possible as sources of supplies, construction and services.'' The division argued that the regulation is "outreach'' and "does not require race-conscious decision-making affecting any individual.'' Sure, like that Buddhist temple fund-raiser was "outreach'' by Vice President Al Gore.

Not only should Lee not receive a Senate hearing, there ought to be a challenge to his remaining on the job at all. Here is a case not even requiring courage that the Senate Republicans and Democrats who still believe in the law ought to address.

[Deb]

We'll get Zell Miller, but lose Lincoln Chaffey and probably Olympia Snowe, which means Cheney will have to break the tie.

[CyberAnt]

"sweet words to the ears of democrats"

Why ...??

We already have a 3-1 dollar advantage over the dems.

[ken5050]

"large black Sharpie?"......hmmm..so you tell the GOP you're supporting the Rev Al this campaign cycle...

[Cordova Belle]

We interrupt this thread to bring you the following question:

I want to know who JLH is and why she's so cute...

[NYC Republican]

What about McCain? Which way is he going to go? Collins of Maine?? What about her?

[Petronski]

I only wish you gentlemen actually had those keys. We could be swearing in some new judges next week!

[ken5050]

Great image.....but I'd save Bork for a recess appt to the Supremes....

[Petronski]

hmmm..so you tell the GOP you're supporting the Rev Al this campaign cycle...

Sharpton is a Large Black Dullie!

[nyconse]

I might add -in the defence of Democrats-if I had a choice between fire Island and Oklahoma, I'd probably choose Fire Island. At least you could go swimming and lay out on the beach!

[steveegg]

I only wish you gentlemen actually had those keys. We could be swearing in some new judges next week!

Same here.

[mrsmith]

"it will be fun to see Byrd go ballistic"
"Fie! Fie!"

LOL I'd pay to watch that.