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."

[Digger]

The GOP does this a lot. Do something they know they should do, thus energizing their base, and then they cave when the media starts harping about them not playing fair (while giving the Democrats a pass).

Some of us have this figured out & just possibly these pols are understanding that. I think of the many I know that have sent contribution letters back with no money & statements to get some ba!!s.

[Justin714]

Seems to me the DimoCraps are always running.

[RippleFire]

bump

[Southack]

"after filibustering two nominees, why wouldn't the Dems filibuster the changing of the rules????"

They'll probably try, but I don't think that filibusters are *valid* against rule changes.

The existing Senate rules say that only a majority of Senators is required to change the rules, not the 3/5ths that a filibuster requires under the rules to end "debate".

[nyconse]

Does anyone know who the Senate Parlimatarian is? What can we expect?

[Lazamataz]

Bump to the Nuclear Option Top.

[Area51]

Okay so we have seen this a million times.

Out comes the Rough and tumble, barking Dogs aka the Repbulican Leaders...

Next will come the whining Democritters to the National Press...

Then it will end with Lott et al wimpering back into their caves with their tails between their legs. Adn the Democritter once again set the tone and Agenda in the Senate.

Just like clock work.

[hchutch]

Spin up all tubes for 1SQ. Targeting: Demonrat filibusters of nominees.

Authenticator: JULIET LIMA HOTEL INDIA SIERRA CHARLIE UNIFORM TANGO ECHO

[autoresponder]

Chafee & Snow the ones to watch...

A few more too, but any Republican voting against a Senate rules change to end a fillabuster will be in deep stuff.

Elections next year and all of the "centrist" swing vote Senate Republicans are getting long in the tooth and face primary opponents next run, as well as a dearth of RNC campaign funding.

[doug from upland]

I also like the idea of recess appointments, however, I want our guys in for life.

[BOBTHENAILER]

(PROUDLY POSTING WITHOUT READING THE ARTICLE SINCE 1999!)

I didn't know we were supposed to read these articles.

I just look at the pictures.

[deport]

The Senate Parliamentarian, Robert Dove, has served as Parliamentarian since 1994, and also served in the position from 1981-1987, along with 14 prior years of service as an assistant parliamentarian. Mr. Dove has a staff of three. His immediate predecessor, Alan Frumin, served as Parliamentarian of the Senate for seven years, and now serves as Senior Assistant Parliamentarian. His earlier predecessor, Murray Zweben, was Parliamentarian for five years. Zweben's predecessor, Floyd Riddick served as parliamentarian for ten years, and authored the volume of significant Senate precedents still known as "Riddick's Senate Procedure."
http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:HPsI21QlGoMJ:www.c-span.org/questions/weekly44.htm+senate+parliamentarian&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

[EERinOK]

I think it does have an impact because they are seeing alot of it.

My stock answer has been:

The voters and contributors did their jobs last november, it's time the Senate Republicans did theirs. Until then, don't ask for any more money.

It does not stop them from asking for the money, but it does stop them from getting it from me.

Personally I think the Republicans are playing politics with the nominations as much or more than the democrats, by stalling until closer to the election to try and use it against the dems. We did not elect them to stall to position themselves for re-election, but to get the job done. What if they do not get re-elected?

[autoresponder]

A fillabuster on a Senate rules change can be declared "out of order".

If Dems appeal to the (leftie) Parliamentarian and he concurs with the Dems, he can be overruled by a simple majority of 51.

That cannot be filabustered.

Dems may try a walkout to withhold the required Senate quorum to vote.

They will be getting wilder and more desperate, which will not be pretty to the US voter in time of war emergency and Bush's high popularity, especially after today's losses by the US and Brits in Iraq.

Dems are in a compressing box and getting squeezed; options running out, credibility about that of Dean & Son.

[TomGuy]

Good job Lott! Finally, some resolve in this matter.

Maybe Trent previewed to them what he was going to write about them in his new book he's been threatening to write.

[Reagan Man]

This is the type of majority action that so-called GOP Senate leader and the Presidents man, Sen.Bill Frist, should have been engaging in a long time ago. If the Dems want to play the filibuster game, the GOP needs to take off the gloves and mix it up. Changing the Senate rules should have been front and center the minute the Democrats gameplan was known.

[kellynla]

re: post #57 Eighteen months is better than none. And that gives Bush another issue come November '04. Vote Republican so I can have my recess appointments for life.

[NYC Republican]

re: post #57 Eighteen months is better than none. And that gives Bush another issue come November '04. Vote Republican so I can have my recess appointments for life.

Excellent point!