Reid Offers A Compromise On Judicial Nominations

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Tuesday night he hopes to confirm three of President Bush’s judicial nominees before the Memorial Day recess, at least temporarily quieting rumors that Senate Republicans may try to use procedural tactics to force votes on stalled judicial nominations.

Reid said he met with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Tuesday afternoon and promised McConnell he would try and hold votes on three circuit court judges before the break, although Reid said he could not guarantee that the votes will occur.

Rumors swirled on Tuesday afternoon that Republicans were contemplating bringing floor debate to a halt in order to force votes on the president’s judicial nominees, with several prominent Republican senators voicing their displeasure over the slow pace of the nomination process.

Privately, GOP aides said it was too early to tell if Reid’s offer of three circuit court nominees would be enough to mollify Senate Republicans and avert another showdown.

“This is a step in the right direction…considering a few days ago they weren’t prepared to give us any,” said one senior GOP aide, “but the jury is still out on whether or not that will be enough.”
Continue reading post...