WASHINGTON -A long-threatened showdown over changing Senate rules to stop Democratic filibusters of President Bush's judicial nominations could come as early as next week, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said yesterday.
Frist, in his weekly news conference with reporters, said he hopes the Senate finishes a highway bill and an emergency spending package to fund military operations overseas this week. And then we need to turn to 100 United States senators and move to the issue surrounding judges
he said.
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said he's ready and expects to win.
I want to be clear: We are prepared for a vote on the nuclear option Reid said in a letter to Frist, referring to the GOP threat to change the filibuster rules. Democrats will join responsible Republicans in a vote to uphold the constitutional principle of checks and balances.
Democrats have blocked 10 of Bush's appellate court choices through filibuster threats, requiring those nominees to get 60 votes in the 100-member Senate instead of the simple majority needed for Senate confirmation. None of the 10 could clear that threshold.
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