Democrats Plan (forcing) Votes on Controversial Nominees, Senator Says (including Goodwin Liu)

[usregimechange]

President Barack Obama's nominees for the federal judiciary have stalled for months in part because of heated disagreement over a handful of nominees. Now, Senate Democrats are looking at forcing votes on four of them.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) said today that Democrats could move soon to end debate on the nominees. He said that Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was lining up support this morning for what’s known as a cloture petition — the necessary paperwork before holding a vote to end debate.

“He’s lining up the signatures,” Whitehouse said after a meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Such a petition requires 16 signatures.

http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2010/11/democrats-plan-votes-on-controversial-nominees-senator-says.html


The four

John McConnell Jr, to be United States District Judge for the District of Rhode Island

Goodwin Liu, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit

Edward Chen, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California

Robert Chatigny, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Tx4obama]

1. Excellent news!

What is this 'cloture petition' that needs only 16 signatures?
Is it a petition that stops debate in the committee or in the full senate?
I'm a bit confused. Anyone have more info on this?
Also, can it be used for other things that are being held up?

[usregimechange]

2. I think there is cloture filing, cloture to begin debate, and cloture to end it

that is the filing part. It can be used much much more.

[Tx4obama]

3. Yeah, that is how it always is, but I don't understand this cloture petition that requires only 16

signatures.
If that is the case then why have we been always having to have 60 votes for cloture in the senate for other stuff,
if all it takes is a 'cloture petition'

[Hawaii Hiker]

4. What are the guidelines for using the nuclear option?

Didn't rethugs threaten to use that to get their judges confirmed in the last admin?....Can we just use the nuclear option to get these judges confirmed?...Then the "Gang of 14" compromise was reached and ALL of Bushies nominees got confirmed...It's funny how we never hear about that Gang of 14 compromise now that there is a democratic president....The only Gang of 14 democrats get is if they see it in a porn movie...

[usregimechange]

7. Yep, Dems have no spine

[usregimechange]

5. That is just the paperwork to get it started, that is no problem, the next step is the tough one

[Winterblues]

6. So they will all be filibustered, what else is new?

There is no way Republicans are going to change their strategy... It worked for them, so why would they change? There is no way in Hell any Legislation or any appointees will clear the Senate before 2012 election......The Government has been successfully stopped from operating...with the help of some "Democrats" of course...Ben Nelson and Joe Lieberman should be so proud of themselves.....

[usregimechange]

8. They may not be, all they need are 2 votes from Maine

Cloture voted worked to get Hamilton to the 7th Circuit.

[usregimechange]

9. The Senate will not be in session the week of November 22-26, 2010.

[usregimechange]

10. 4 bounces for 4 judges