Senate Begins Around-The-Clock Debate on Judges
Wednesday, November 12, 2003 6:59 p.m. ET
By Thomas Ferraro
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With coffee and cots, U.S. senators began on Wednesday what promised to be the longest nonstop debate in their chamber in a decade -- this one on President Bush's four blocked judicial nominees.
"We are launching a historic justice-for-justice marathon to confirm the president's judicial nominees and highlight the Democrats' partisan obstructionism," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist , a Tennessee Republican. "All we ask is a vote."
But Republicans were not expected to get a vote during the talkathon unless Democrats fall asleep and fail to oppose a procedural bid to confirm nominees without objection.
"We'll be there to object, believe me," vowed Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat.
According to the Senate historian's office, it will be the longest, nonstop debate in the chamber since a 30-hour, 41-minute showdown in 1994 over campaign finance reform.
To prepare, both parties brewed plenty of coffee and had lots of food on hand. They also have rotating shifts for members to be on the Senate floor to keep the debate going.
