ConfirmThem

By Nate H Posted in Senate Rules — Comments () / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Sen. Harry Reid's idea of a judicial nominee compromise entails votes on three of the ten filibustered nominees.

Senate Republicans rejected a Democratic offer to resolve an impasse over judicial nominees yesterday, as members of both parties said they are under strong pressure from interest groups to hold their ground.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) said the Democratic proposal was unacceptable because it would force President Bush to withdraw some of his seven long-contested appellate court nominees and give Democrats the right to filibuster future nominees -- possibly including some for the Supreme Court.

"My goal is to have fair up-and-down votes" on all nominees sent to the Senate floor, Frist told reporters. "Are we going to shift from that principle? The answer to that is no."

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The Democrats' offer would allow three of the seven filibustered nominees to have confirmation votes, which all sides agree they would win. Two -- Richard A. Griffin and David W. McKeague -- are nominated to the Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. A third nominee to that court who has been stalled but not filibustered -- Susan Bieke Neilson -- also would be approved. But a fourth -- Henry W. Saad, who was filibustered last year -- would have to be withdrawn.

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Reid's plan also would allow a confirmation vote for one of the four filibustered nominees described by Democrats as so conservative that they are outside the political mainstream. Aides said Reid's plan did not make it clear who would decide which of the four appellate court nominees would be accepted and which three would be withdrawn. The four are Janice Rogers Brown, nominated for the D.C. Circuit; William H. Pryor Jr., nominated to the 11th Circuit; William Gerry Myers III, nominated to the 9th Circuit; and Priscilla Richman Owen, nominated to the 5th Circuit.