April 16, 2005
GOP Has the Votes to Break Filibuster

So says Robert Novak:

Republican leaders count only two or three GOP senators who will vote against the efforts to end, by a straight majority vote, filibusters on confirmation of judicial nominations.

Sens. Olympia Snowe of Maine and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island will not support this move, and they are likely to be joined by Sen. John McCain of Arizona. That would mean 52 senators would go along with the parliamentary maneuver attempting to end filibusters on judges. Only 50 are needed.

The only Democrat who might possibly join this effort is Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska. But Bush will not press him to break party discipline if his help is unnecessary.

If this is correct, then we've got it in the bag provided that the Senate GOP leadership doesn't go wobbly on us.

Posted by Mark Noonan on April 16, 2005 11:20 PM


Comments

This is the proverbial "step in the right direction" we need to feel more confidence in the leadership. If they can't get this done, are they hopeless? hmmmmm

Posted by: DagneyT [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 17, 2005 10:02 AM