Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Senate Avoids Showdown; GOP Leadership Decries "Tyranny of the Reasonable"
A showdown over the use of filibusters was averted last night when a compromise agreement was reached among the so-called "Group of 14"--a group comprised of seven Democratic senators and seven Republican ones. Not everyone was happy with the compromise, however. "This is a betrayal of majority rule," one member of the Senate Republican leadership complained. "First, 40 senators controlled the business of the Senate, and now only 14 do? How is that right?"
From the Democrats' view, they traded allowing three unqualified jurists on the appeals courts for some sliver of a say in any prospective Supreme Court confirmation. The Republicans gained quick confirmation of the appellate judges, and the opportunity to get down to not passing the President's Social Security bills.
Compromise seemed unlikely for much of yesterday. The true catalyst, some say, was the arrival of the Camp Granada-era folding cots being wheeled into the halls outside the Senate chamber. Senator Byrd was heard to say he recognized one from a filibuster in 1964, shortly before the senator returned to the caucus room where the historic agreement was reached.
From the Democrats' view, they traded allowing three unqualified jurists on the appeals courts for some sliver of a say in any prospective Supreme Court confirmation. The Republicans gained quick confirmation of the appellate judges, and the opportunity to get down to not passing the President's Social Security bills.
Compromise seemed unlikely for much of yesterday. The true catalyst, some say, was the arrival of the Camp Granada-era folding cots being wheeled into the halls outside the Senate chamber. Senator Byrd was heard to say he recognized one from a filibuster in 1964, shortly before the senator returned to the caucus room where the historic agreement was reached.
