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."

[ken5050]

I thought you were talking about the Senators..not the judges.....but since W has six more years...does Stevens want to stay that long?...can he live that long?

[Brandon]

I was reading this long chain hoping that someone would get the picture; i.e., this is REALLY about SCOTUS nominations.

I think so, too. In fact, I suspect this happened this week because the Supreme Court term is coming to an end, and the President has a Supreme Court resignation sitting on his desk. They will sit on it until the Senate has finished dealing the filibuster issue. They will then announce the resignation and the replacement nominee simultaneously. And all of this will be happening in early July, when very few people other than political junkies are paying attention to the news. Great strategery, if my supposition is right!

[rwfromkansas]

Well, I meant SCOTUS retirements.

But hey, that does cheer me up.....:)

[vannrox]

Ahhh come on.
i am so used to this kind of BS.
I just hope that this is real and not a hoax.

[ought-six]

"THE NUCLEAR OPTION HAS BEEN SELECTED!!!!"

If that was the nuclear option, it's a very low-yield weapon.

[ken5050]

In my heart of hearts..I think the GOP could pick up 7 seats...then get 2 Dems to cross the aisle....Nelson and maybe one other....they'd have to give a little on seniorty and committee assignments...but OK...

here's my list....Hollings retires, Edwards doesn't run...Graham retires, Reid loses....Breaux retires...but the GOP may not get this seat..cause Dona Brazile will run...Daschle decides not to run...and the GOP picks up the seat in Ga from Zell Miller...

[firewalk]

Bttt

[bert]

See my #229.

Freegards from East Tennessee

[ought-six]

"I don't see McCain bolting on this. I think Chafee is almost a sure thing. One of the women might also."

Chafee for sure; Olympia Snowe, maybe. Zell Miller will go with the Reps. It will take Cheney's vote to break a 50/50 tie.

[rwfromkansas]

Well......maybe. But only if the economy is chugging along and the Iraq situation is under control.

[Brandon]

Unfortunately, we're extremely vulnerable in Illinois, and at least somewhat vulnerable in ALASKA of all places. So figure the GOP to lose at least one of the seats we currently hold, possibly two.

Just being realistic here; I don't want to throw cold water over a beautiful dream.

[NYC Republican]

cause Dona Brazile will run

Do you really think she'd win in Louisiana? I surely don't. Terrell would trounce her.

[ken5050]

Nope..Suzy couldn't beat Mary...Dona is strong...La is the heaviest state in black registration, and she's been quietly positioning herself in case Breaux doesn't run..that's why, IMHO, she turned down several offers to run Dem presidential campaigns....

[ken5050]

Illinois yes...that's a loser for the GOP...but we'll hold Alaska....her dad's name is magic..the nepotism charge will have subsided, and the GOP is letting her run point on the ANWR drilling....even though all the Dem candidates support it, the GOP will be able to hang it aroudn the dems neck that the national party, in the Senate, opposes it..so what's the good of electing a Dem senator if he can't deliver his party on the single biggest issue to the voters of Alaska.....

[Robert A Cook PE]

I authenticate:

Hotel India Lima Lima Alpha Romeo Yankee Sierra Lima Alpha Romeo Delta Alpha Sierra Sierra

[ibheath]

bookmark ping

[OPS4]

Go Republican's, change the rules and save the courts.
Ops4 God Bless America!

[The South Texan]

Quick ,someone run over to a sporting goods store and buy the Senate Republicans an athletic supporter with protective cup to protect those new jewels they just grew.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

Look at what the DNC are up to

Look at the losers.

[Salvation]

**with all its Democratic members absent**

LOL! Look what happens when your're not at a meeting!

ROTFLOL!