From Talk Left:
The Senate Rules Committee, by a vote of 10 to 0, voted today to limit filibusters . Notwithstanding that Democrats oppose the limit, none of the nine democrats on the committee attending the meeting. The matter will now go to a full floor vote.
A Senate committee with all its Democratic members absent voted to limit filibusters of President Bush's judicial nominees Tuesday, a move Republicans hope will usher future federal judges through the Senate faster, even if Democrats want to stop them.The nine democrats who missed the meeting are: "...Daschle, ranking Rules Committee Democrat Chris Dodd of Connecticut, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, Dianne Feinstein of California, Charles Schumer of New York, John Breaux of Louisiana, Mark Dayton of Minnesota and Richard Durbin of Illinois."
The Rules Committee officially voted 10-0 for the measure, which would reduce the number of senators needed to force a vote on a judicial nominee with each successive vote until only a 51-member majority is needed.
....Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota had another commitment he had to attend to, and Democrats did not organize a boycott of the vote, spokeswoman Ranit Schmelzer said.
And a reader comment:
Under current rules, there would need to be a two/thirds majority vote in favor of changing the filibuster rule. Obviously, if the Dems hold together, it can't happen.
The more likely (and scary) move by the Repubs is the "nuclear option" in which Frist would have the Senate chair rule that the filibuster of judicial nominees is unconstitutional, and then have the Senate vote on that ruling. This option only calls for a majority vote. If this occurs, the Senate will become an absolutely fractured and partisan body like the House. Any attempts at bi-partisanship will end. I find it hard to believe that the more moderate Repub. Senators would go along with this plan. It would change the face of the Senate forever.
The more likely (and scary) move by the Repubs is the "nuclear option" in which Frist would have the Senate chair rule that the filibuster of judicial nominees is unconstitutional, and then have the Senate vote on that ruling. This option only calls for a majority vote. If this occurs, the Senate will become an absolutely fractured and partisan body like the House. Any attempts at bi-partisanship will end. I find it hard to believe that the more moderate Repub. Senators would go along with this plan. It would change the face of the Senate forever.
Now, my comment:
9/11 changed everything.
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