WASHINGTON (AP) -In a dramatic reach across party lines, Senate centrists sealed a compromise Monday night to clear the way for confirmation of many of President Bush's stalled judicial nominees, leave others in limbo and preserve venerable filibuster rules.
In a Senate that has become increasingly partisan and polarized
the bipartisan center held said Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., one of 14 senators , seven from each party, to pledge their mutual trust and confidence on the deal.
The Senate is back in business exulted Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., reflecting the view that a showdown would have would have had a long-term detrimental impact on Congress' ability to conduct the nation's business.
Under the terms, Democrats agreed to allow final confirmation votes for Priscilla Owen, Janice Rogers Brown and William Pryor, named to appeals court seats. There is no commitment to vote for or against the filibuster against two other conservatives named to the appeals court, Henry Saad and William Myers.
The agreement said future judicial nominees should only be filibustered under extraordinary circumstances
with each Democratic senator holding the discretion to decide when those conditions had been met.
In light of the spirit and continuing commitments made in this agreement
Republicans said they would oppose any attempt to make changes in the application of filibuster rules.
While the agreement was signed by only 14 senators, they held the balance of power in a sharply divided Senate.
And Republicans said they would seek to confirm Owen as early as Tuesday, with other cleared nominees to follow quickly.
Even so, Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., noted he had not been a party to the deal, which fell short of his stated goal of winning yes-or-no votes on each of Bush's nominees. It has some good news and it has some disappointing news and it will require careful monitoring
he said.
Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada seemed more receptive, although he hastened to say he remains opposed to some of the nominees who will now likely take seats on federal appeals courts.
Checks and balances have been protected. The integrity of the Supreme Court has been protected from the undue influence of the vocal
radical right wing
Reid said.
The White House said the agreement was a positive development.
Many of these nominees have waited for quite some time to have an up-or-down vote and now they are going to get one. That's progress
presidential press secretary Scott McClellan said. We will continue working to push for up or down votes for all the nominees.
The deal was sealed in Sen. John McCain's office, across the street from the Capitol where senators had expected an all-night session of speech-making, prelude to Tuesday's anticipated showdown.
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