Judicial Nominees

By Richard Land - Apr 25, 2005 - comment

You are well aware of the current dilemma in the U.S. Senate over the confirmation of some of the President’s judicial nominees. The obstructionist tactics being employed to prevent a Senate vote on these nominees is unprecedented and cannot be allowed to continue. If this abuse of the filibuster is not stopped, we could end up with a new 60-vote confirmation standard. Yet the Constitution only requires a majority vote to confirm any executive nomination.

One way to end this abuse of the filibuster is to define the Senate’s practices and procedures regarding filibusters. This is known as the “constitutional option.” The Constitution gives the Senate Majority Leader the authority to exercise the constitutional option. In fact Senate Majority Leader Byrd used the constitutional option in 1977, 1979, 1980, and 1987 to change Senate procedures.

Understandably, and to his great credit, Senator Frist does not want it to come to this, but I believe that we are at the place where this is the best option available to assure that the President’s judicial nominees receive an up or down vote in the Senate. The constitutional option does not guarantee that the nominees will be confirmed. It merely gives the Senate the opportunity to vote.

If you agree that the filibuster of judicial nominees has gone on long enough, I ask you to join with me in contacting your senators right away. Just tell them you want the filibusters to end and that you support the constitutional option.

You can call your senators by dialing the Capitol switchboard at 202/224-3121. Just tell the operator which Senate offices you would like to call, and you will be connected. If you do not know who your senators are, or if you would like to email them instead of calling, then just enter your zip code in the space provided to the right.

I look forward to hearing that you acted so quickly that all the senate offices were flooded with calls and emails supporting the constitutional option and an end to the filibuster of judicial nominees. May God bless you.

Further Learning

Learn more about: Citizenship, National

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