[Mb-civic] US Democrats reject judicial offer from Frist

[Michael Butler]

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US Democrats reject judicial offer from Frist
>By Holly Yeager in Washington
>Published: April 28 2005 21:19 | Last updated: April 29 2005 00:34
>>

Bill Frist, the Senate majority leader, moved on Thursday to avert a
partisan showdown over judicial nominees, offering Democrats a precise
timetable for their consideration and pledging to preserve the use of the
filibuster during legislative debates.

But the deal, offered during a brief speech on the Senate floor, was
rebuffed by Harry Reid, the Democratic leader, who called it a ³slow-motion
nuclear option² designed to diminish the rights of the minority party.

The manoeuvre, following an offer earlier in the week from Mr Reid, shows
both sides struggling to gain the advantage in what has become a heated
debate.

Mr Frist's offer came a day after Republicans in the House agreed to
overturn a rule they approved in January governing the ethics committee. The
change was seen as a way to protect Tom DeLay, the majority leader, who
faces charges that some of his overseas travel in recent years was paid for
improperly.

Taken together, the moves may indicate a willingness on the part of
Republican leaders in Congress to acknowledge that they have over-reached as
they sought to flex the enhanced majority they won in the November election.

Republicans have complained that Democrats have used the filibuster
unfairly, blocking up-or-down votes on 10 controversial court nominations
made by President George W. Bush. Democrats insist that the procedure, which
allows just 40 senators to prevent a vote, is an essential element of the
Senate.

To break the deadlock over judges, Mr Frist has been considering the
so-called ³nuclear option², using a simple majority vote to declare the
filibuster off-limits for judicial nominees. While Republicans hold 55 seats
in the Senate, some in his party have baulked at the proposal and it is
unclear whether Mr Frist could gain the support of the 50 needed to win
approval.

The rules change has become a priority for conservatives, who are eager to
see their work for Republicans in the election rewarded with the appointment
of judges who share their views.

Democrats have complained that Mr Frist, who is weighing a run for the White
House in 2008, has pursued the strategy to boost his standing among this
important voting bloc.

³Resolving the judicial obstruction debate, for me, isn't about politics,²
Mr Frist said. ³This is about constitutional principles. It's about fairness
to nominees.²

But Mr Reid disagreed, calling the deal ³a big wet kiss for the far right².

Mr Frist's proposal would allow a filibuster on nominees at the district
court level. But it would in effect eliminate it for higher level judges by
guaranteeing a vote on nominees to circuit courts and the US Supreme Court.

Under the proposal, each nomination would be allowed up to 100 hours of
debate.

It would also ensure that court nominees are not held up in the judiciary
committee, where some of former President Bill Clinton's nominees were
effectively blocked by Republicans, and would preserve the use of the
filibuster for normal legislative matters.

Mr Reid said he would study the proposal, to see if it offered any areas for
compromise. But he offered no sign that he would be enticed by the deal.
³This has never been about the lengths of the debate,² he said. ³This is
about checks and balances.²

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