ConfirmThem

By AndrewHyman Comments () / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

The Hill reports that Democratic Senator Ben Nelson is still working to strike a compromise with the GOP on judicial nominations. This report also says that many Democratic Senators are opposed to shutting down the Senate if the nuclear/Byrd/constitutional option is used:

[A] number of centrist Democrats indicated they would not support obstruction of key legislative initiatives not related to funding government or troops overseas, such as the energy bill and the highway bill. "We have an overwhelming need for an energy bill," Conrad said. "I would put it as one of the top things on the agenda." He added that he didn't think Democrats would block initiatives such as the energy bill to retaliate against Republicans for using the nuclear option. "That's not going to happen," he said. "The Senate can't be shut down." Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) said he also would not support Democrats' blocking certain big-ticket legislative items not related to funding government or overseas troops. "Clearly I don't want to see complete gridlock in the Senate," he said. "I've never heard Reid say that he would shut down the Senate."

For the views of other Democratic Senators on a possible shutdown, see here.