National Organization for Women Targets Key States to Defend the Filibuste

[PA Mamma]

National Organization for Women Targets Key States to Defend the Filibuster

WASHINGTON -- May 5 -- "NOW activists across the country are leading an emergency campaign to save our courts," said NOW President Kim Gandy. "We are targeting senators in fifteen states and sending the message that we will not allow the legacy of our courts to be dictated by religious and political extremists."

This is a critical time for NOW activists in 15 states represented by senators who have not yet said publicly whether or not they will support Senator Frist's attempt to "go nuclear" and banish the filibuster. NOW activists are targeting Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Rhode Island and South Dakota, urging undecided senators not to "blow up" the senate.

"Republican leaders are misleading the public by claiming that Democrats have blocked numerous judicial nominations," Gandy said. "The fact is that in the last four years, they've only blocked 10 of Bush's nominees while confirming over 200."

Responding to the suggestion that filibusters against nominees Priscilla Owen and Janice Rogers Brown might trigger the nuclear option, Gandy said: "NOW is not pleased to oppose the elevation of two women to the highest courts of the land. But our primary focus, above all else, is equality and justice for women. Unfortunately, these two nominees have embraced with zeal judicial philosophies that do not respect women's rights, consumer rights, environmental rights or minority rights."

More: http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0505-02.htm