Tom Daschle and Senate Democrats Block Bush Judicial Nominees.

WASHINGTON (9/29/04) - - During 2003-04, the Democratic minority in the Senate, led by Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, have prevented up-and-down votes on ten of President Bush's nominees to federal courts of appeals. These are very important courts, just one level down from the U.S. Supreme Court.

Republicans hold the Senate majority, 51-49. Moreover, under the Constitution, only a majority vote is required for the Senate to confirm a presidential nominee. However, under Senate rules, unlimited debate (or filibuster) is permitted on most issues, unless the Senate votes to "invoke cloture," which requires 60 votes. Senate Democrats have used the filibuster because the targeted nominees would have been confirmed by simple majorities on up-and-down votes.

The nominees subjected to filibusters and other obstruction tactics, despite their sterling legal credentials, are those targeted by a coalition of liberal groups. Pro-abortion organizations such as NARAL, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and People for the American Way are especially influential in this coalition. Therefore, many nominees who would not commit to vote for abortion were targeted for such obstruction. All 51 Republican senators supported ending every filibuster of a judicial nominee, but no more than four Democratic senators have voted to end any of the 10 filibusters. There-fore, none of the filibusters have yet been broken.

Forty-three of the 49 Democratic senators failed to support ending the filibuster against even one of the 10 filibustered nominees. Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry (D) was part of the bloc that did not support ending a single filibuster.

Sen. Zell Miller (D-Ga.), who has endorsed President Bush for re-election, ...