Democrats Walk Tall, Stand up for Ethics, Constitution

Democrats have been walking a little taller the past few days. In the House, Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) and Ethics Committee Chair Doc Hastings (R-WA) recently backed down after Democrats refused to accept their compromise proposal. The Republicans had previously changed the ethics committee rules so that any partisan deadlock over an issue would result in its immediate dismissal. Democrats alleged that this rule change was made to protect embattled House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX). The Democrats refused to convene the Ethics Committee under the new rules.

The Republican compromise proposal allowed for an investigation of DeLay in exchange for the rules change, but the ranking Democrat on the ethics committee, Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV) refused to compromise his principles. It didn’t take much longer for Republicans to back down, agreeing to convene under the old rules that demand an investigation of any member in the face of partisan deadlock. The investigation of DeLay will now go forward.

Republicans Threaten to Break the Rules, Trample Minority Rights

Now the Democrats have another chance to walk tall, this time in the Senate, where the nuclear option issue is quickly coming to a head. During President Bush’s last term, Democrats threatened to filibuster 10 of his most conservative judicial nominees, indefinitely stalling their confirmation process. This term, Bush has re-nominated 8 of these unacceptable judges.

The Democrats have once again threatened to use the filibuster. Republicans have responded by threatening the nuclear option. In this scenario, Frist would break the rule that requires a 2/3 majority to change Senate rules. He would ask for a simple majority to vote to take away the minority’s right to filibuster Bush’s outrageous nominees. This would be a gross violation of the Constitution’s protection of the minority. In the event that this option is used, Senate Democrats have threatened a total shutdown of the legislature.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has proposed a compromise that would allow 100 hours of debate on judicial nominees, followed by an up-or-down vote on each. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has called this the “slow motion nuclear option.” After 100 hours, the rights of the minority simply disappear. He hasn’t said he’ll scrap the proposal altogether, but his response was chilly at best.

It’s critical that you write your Senators, both Democratic and Republican, and let them know that you don’t support this compromise option. Encourage your Democratic Senators to walk tall with Reid and encourage him not to back down to the majority’s political games. Write your Republican Senators and urge them to take the nuclear option off the table.

We must send a clear message to the White House that far-right judges do not represent the American people, and are not fit to serve on the Federal Judiciary.

You can contact your Senators by CLICKING HERE.