GOING NUCLEAR

Senate Committee Passes 'Nuclear Option' Filibuster Rule (Jeff Johnson, June 24, 2003, CNSNews.com)

Anticipating a possible vacancy on the Supreme Court later this year, the Senate Rules and Administration Committee Tuesday passed what opponents
have called the "nuclear option" to end the Democrats' strategy of filibustering judicial nominees they do not have enough votes to defeat. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) predicted Democrats will be able to block the resolution, just as they have been successful in blocking the president's judicial nominees. [...]

The full Senate must vote on the resolution before it can take effect. Rules changes require only a simple majority - 51 votes - to pass, but opponents can filibuster the resolution under a special rule that would let only one-third of the senators block a vote on the proposal.

Given that the GOP is more likely to get to 60 than the Democrats to 50, it seems unwise of Mr. Daschle & company to play hardball. Posted by Orrin Judd at June 24, 2003 8:01 PM