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Gold9472
05-23-2005, 07:50 PM
Deal averts filibuster showdown
Confrontation over judicial nominees had seemed nearly certain

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7957374/

MSNBC staff and news service reports
Updated: 7:46 p.m. ET May 23, 2005

WASHINGTON - Senators from both parties reached a compromise Monday night to avoid a showdown on President Bush’s stalled judicial nominees and the Senate’s own filibuster rules.

“We have reached an agreement ... to pull the institution back from a precipice … that would have had damaging impact on the institution,” said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at a news conference where the agreement was announced.

Earlier, officials from both parties, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the agreement would clear the way for yes or no votes on some of Bush’s nominees but make no guarantee.

Under the agreement, Democrats would pledge not to filibuster any of Bush’s future appeals court or Supreme Court nominees except in “extraordinary circumstances.”

For their part, Republicans agreed not to support an attempt to strip Democrats of their right to block votes.

Under the agreement, Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen, nominated to a seat on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, would advance to a final confirmation vote.

Senate Republican leader Bill Frist had made her a test vote in a bruising showdown over the fate of several appeals courts nominees that Democrats blocked in the past and had threatened to block again.

With the series of climactic votes set for Tuesday, compromise-minded senators of both parties met in the McCain's office for a last stab at compromise.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

princesskittypoo
05-23-2005, 07:58 PM
i like the filibuster... i think we should keep it under ALL cercumstances.