Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Senators debate whether recent cooperation will continue.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON -- Smiling broadly, several members of the group of 14 senators who announced they had just reached a deal to stave off the conflagration over judicial nominees, also said they hoped to extend their bipartisan problem-solving abilities to legislative quagmires as well.
"I hope maybe this empowered bipartisan center will decide that it's been good to work together and we'll keep on working together to get some good things done for the American people," said Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., shortly after the agreement was reached Monday night.
Despite such declarations of comity, the rest of the Senate may find it difficult to resolve deep differences on a host of issues, ranging from Social Security and immigration reform to asbestos litigation and tax reform. The nomination of John Bolton to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations also poses the potential for gridlock.
"There are some things that are very difficult to consider," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the assistant minority leader, pointing to President Bush's plan to create private investment accounts as part of Social Security.
On Tuesday, however, the Senate voted 81-18 to cut off the filibuster of Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen and proceed to a vote on her nomination to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. The final vote on confirmation is expected today.
Disagreement
But even within the bipartisan group of deal-makers, there are disagreements over whether it could or should try to assert itself in other matters before the Senate.
"This group has set in motion the momentum for the Senate to solve problems for the American people," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. "Stay tuned. Watch this group."
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., on the other hand, swatted that notion away.
"This group is anxious to disband for the moment and not meet for a while," Nelson said. "There's a spirit of compromise, mutual trust and good faith that might carry over to other issues, but I don't think this group is going to try to run the Senate."
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., whose office was the site of most of the negotiations, said he wished he could announce that the deal to avoid judicial filibusters marked a new beginning for the Senate and a break from past partisanship. Instead, he said, "This was an anomaly."
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., who was not a party to the deal to avoid filibusters except in "extraordinary" circumstances, began the day by saying that he still has the ability to force the Senate to vote on judicial nominations, known both as the "nuclear option" and as the "constitutional option."
"Let me be very clear: The constitutional option remains on the table," Frist said. "I will not hesitate to use it if necessary."
The tough talk was not limited to the Republican side of the aisle. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada resisted extending an olive branch as he continued to tie all Republicans to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, and accuse the GOP of taking advantage of its power in the House, the Senate and the White House.
"They are on a quest for absolute power and we all know what that brings," Reid said. "Their corruption and abuse of power has been laid bare for all Americans to see."