Domenici Statement on Judicial Filibuster Compromise

Domenici Statement on Judicial Filibuster Compromise
from the Office of Senator Pete V. Domenici

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Pete Domenici issued the following statement today regarding the Monday evening compromise agreement by 14 Senators to allow for up or down votes on the nominations of Priscilla Owen, Janice Rogers Brown and William Pryor.

"I share the disappointment of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist that, contrary to the Constitution, under this agreement not every judicial nominee who reaches the Senate floor will get an up or down vote. That has been the rule of the Senate for more than 200 years. I praise the Majority Leader. Without his strong and steadfast leadership, we would not even have at least these three up or down votes.

"We now have a written agreement among 14 Senators, which I was not a part of, to allow up or down votes on judicial nominations, including those for the Supreme Court, absent extraordinary circumstances. In my view, those circumstances should not include being too liberal or too conservative.

"It is important to note that as a result of this agreement, all options remain on the table. My hope is that it will never be necessary to use the 'constitutional option' to assure a majority vote, which is what we have been seeking. If it becomes necessary due to new Democratic obstruction, I will support any effort to restore the Senate's tradition of giving judicial nominees an up or down vote."

http://domenici.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=238156