A Bipartisan Moment On Hill

In Respite From Filibuster Fight, Parties Agree On Money For Kids

(CBS) 
"As opposed to fission, I think we're working on fusion here, if you want to use nuclear terms," said Jon Corzine, D-N.J.

But Corzine's language was a stark reminder of the bitter divide over the so-called nuclear option – a parliamentary tactic that Senate Republicans have threatened to employ to prevent Democrats from using filibusters to block controversial judicial nominations. An article published in The Hill on Thursday indicated that Santorum, a leading advocate of the nuclear option, was privately pushing for a delay in its implementation, reflecting polling that suggests most Americans do not support it. But after his announcement of the ASPIRE Act, Santorum denied he favored a freeze on the nuclear option.

"He asked that question repeatedly and I said, 'No, that's not true,' and I guess he decided he was going to write a story anyway," Santorum said. CBS News was told that several inside the Republican leadership were advocating a postponement of the vote on judges until after the summer recess and that factions were arguing over timing and strategy. Santorum faces a tough re-election race in 2006 in the blue state of Pennsylvania and some Republican strategists believe that the party has steered away from issues that matter to most voters, like gas prices and job creation, in favor of issues that primarily concern its conservative base.

The confusion stemming from The Hill's story and Santorum's denial adds another wrinkle to this divisive issue. On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved two controversial judicial appointees who were blocked by Senate Democrats during President Bush's first term: Priscilla Owen and Janice Rogers Brown. Democrats have again threatened to filibuster the nominations, a tactic that could soon lead to a Republican attempt to utilize the nuclear option.

"Over the next week or two we're going to hopefully come to a resolution on this one way or another," Santorum said.


CBS News Senior Political Editor Dotty Lynch contributed to this story.