Reid Statement and The Deal
Just received this email:
There is good news for every American in this agreement. The so-called
³nuclear option² is off the table. This is a significant victory for our country, for democracy, and for all Americans. Checks and balances in our government have been preserved.
Discuss. (My first reaction is that this is a defeat, since we would only accept a deal unless we didn't have the votes. Then again, the filibuster is saved and Frist might be finished, so it is also a victory).The integrity of future Supreme Courts has been protected from the undue influences of a vocal, radical faction of the right that is completely out of step with mainstream America. That was the intent of the Republican ³nuclear option² from the beginning. Tonight, the Senate has worked its will on behalf of reason, responsibility and the greater good.
We have sent President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and the radical arm of the Republican base an undeniable message: Abuse of power will not be tolerated, and attempts to trample the Constitution and grab absolute control are over. We are a separate and equal branch of government. That is our founding fathers¹ vision, and one we hold dear.
I offered Senator Frist several options similar to this compromise, and while he was not able to agree, I am pleased that some responsible Republicans and my colleagues were able to put aside there differences and work from the center. I do not support several of the judges that have been agreed to because their views and records display judicial activism that jeopardize individual rights and freedoms. But other troublesome nominees have been turned down. And, most importantly, the U.S. Senate retains the checks and balances to ensure all voices are heard in our democracy and the Supreme Court make-up cannot be decided by a simple majority.
I am grateful to my colleagues who brokered this deal. Now, we can move beyond this time-consuming process that has deteriorated the comity of this great institution. I am hopeful that we can quickly turn to work on the people¹s business. We need to ensure our troops have the resources they need to fight in Iraq and that Americans are free from terrorism. We need to protect retiree¹s pensions and long-term security. We need to expand health care opportunities for all families. We need to address rising gasoline prices and energy independence. And we need to restore fiscal responsibility and rebuild our economy so that it lifts all American workers. That is our reform agenda, the people¹s reform agenda.
Together, we can get the job done.
The deal itself is in the extended entry.
Memorandum of Understanding On Judicial Nominees
We respect the diligent, conscientious efforts, to date, rendered to the Senate by Majority Leader Frist and Democratic Leader Reid. This memorandum confirms an understanding among the signatories, based upon mutual trust and confidence, related to pending and future judicial nominations in the 109th Congress.
This memorandum is in two parts. Part I relates to the current pending judicial nominees; Part II relates to subsequent individual nominations to be made by the President and to be actd upon by the Senate’s Judiciary Committee.
We have agreed to the following:
Part I: Commitments of Pending Judicial Nominations
- A. Votes for Certain Nominees. We will invoke cloture on the following nominees: Justice Janice Brown (DC Circuit), William Pryor (11th circuit), and Priscilla Owen (5th Circuit).
- B. Status of Other Nominees:Signatories make no commitment to vote for or against cloture on the following nominees: William Myers (9th Circuit) and Henry Saad (6th Circuit).
- A. Future Nominations. Signatories will exercise their responsibilities under the Advise and Consent Clause of the United Stated Constitution in good faith. Nominees should only be filibustered under extraordinary circumstances, and each signatory must use his or her own judgment in determining whether such circumstances exist.
- B. Rules Changes. In light of the spirit and continuing commitments made in this agreement, we commit to oppose the rules changes in the 109th Congress, which we understand to be any amendment to or interpretation of Rules of the Senate that would force a vote on judicial nomination by means other than unanimous consent or Rule XXII.
Such a return to the early practices of our government may well serve to reduce the rancor that unfortunately accompanies the advice and consent process in the Senate.
We firmly believe that this agreement is consistent with the traditions of the United Stae Senate that we as Senators seek to uphold.
Benjamin Nelson, John McCain, Mike Dewine, John Warner, Joseph Lieberman, Robert Byrd, Susan Collins, Mary Landrieu, Mark Pryor, Olympia Snowe, Linsday Graham, Ken Salazar, Lincoln Chafee, Kent Conrad
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