Conyers to Senate: Don't Pull the Trigger on "Nuclear" Option Implores Leadership Not to "Put Our Democracy in Peril over Partisanship"

"A few weeks ago, I asked my colleagues in the U.S. Senate to drop the so-called 'nuclear option' that would push judicial nominees through Senate confirmation by removing the power of a minority to filibuster during the process.

Today, I'm sorry to say the Senate is on the verge of attempting to destroy one of the most precious checks on power in our democratic government. As two controversial nominees come to the floor this week, the persistence of the Republican leadership to pursue this severe measure is astounding. Meanwhile, their tactics have strayed from reasonable discourse into irresponsible accusations of religious discrimination.

Yesterday, Majority Leader Bill Frist participated in a religious telecast that turned the focus of the 'filibuster' debate into an issue of faith. The telecast's participants accused Democrats of using the filibuster to keep judges of a certain faith off the bench. To imply that any party or any senator would impose a litmus test against people of faith is not only below the belt, but it is also wholly inaccurate.

In reality, this debate is over the nature of our democracy. For 200 years, the Senate has used the filibuster to protect the rights of the minority in Congress and prevent intensely divisive legislation from passing. Truth be told, Senators have used the filibuster to block only 10 of Bush's most extreme nominees. In that time, 204 of his nominees were confirmed. If a nominee faces opposition from more than 40 U.S. Senators, perhaps the nominee isn't an appropriate choice for a lifetime appointment to a federal judgeship.

This intense party loyalty has damaged the nature of political discourse in this country. When Senate leaders and religious leaders come together to decry an entire political party as faithless and immoral, such tactics are beyond 'playing politics.' The leaders in the Senate need to come together to find a solution that will assure both that fair and responsible judges fill vacant judicial seats and that the filibuster remains available for use during the most extreme situations. Please do not put our democracy in peril over partisanship."

###109-4-25-05###