From his mouth to a Senate vote!
Frist Says Filibusters of Bush Nominees Must End
By Thomas Ferraro
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, who has long favored a change in Senate rules, said on Thursday "one way or another" procedural roadblocks against federal judicial nominees must end.
Frist noted that Senate Democrats have already used so-called filibusters to deny confirmation votes on 10 of President Bush's appeals court nominees.
"The Senate cannot allow the filibuster of circuit court nominees to continue," Frist said in a speech for delivery to The Federalist Society, a conservative group.
"Nor can we allow the filibuster to extend to potential Supreme Court nominees," the Tennessee Republican said.
A simple majority in the 100-member Senate is needed to confirm a nominee, but 60 votes are required to end a filibuster.
Having gained four seats in the Nov. 2 elections, which will increase their Senate majority next year to 55, Republicans have a number of options, a top aide said.
They hope enough Democrats, mindful of the election results, will now break ranks and vote to end filibusters against judicial nominees, the aide said.
If that does not work, the Senate could try to force through a proposed rule change, offered by Frist in May 2003, that could stop a filibuster with a simple-majority vote.
A two-thirds vote could be needed to change the rules, however, and Republicans have conceded in the past that they do not have that kind of support.
Another possible option would have the Senate chair declare a filibuster against a judicial nominee unconstitutional. Only a simple-majority vote would be needed to uphold the ruling.
Yet some Senate Republicans have voiced reservations. They warn such a move would further strain relations and come back to hurt them in a future Democratic-led Senate.
Frist said, "One way or another, the filibuster of judicial nominees must end."
"The American people have reelected a president and significantly expanded the Senate majority," Frist said. "It would be wrong to allow a minority to defy the will of a clear and decisive majority ...."
Senate Democrats reject charges of obstructionism, noting they have helped confirm about 200 of Bush's judicial nominees, producing one of the lowest vacancy rates on the federal bench in years. They also contend that the nominees they filibustered are "right-wing extremists." |
