U.S. Senate
Could Go “Nuclear” before Memorial Day
May 19, 2005
Action Needed
Please call your U.S. Senators and ask them to oppose the
proposed rule change in Senate procedures that would prohibit
filibusters to block the confirmation of extremist judicial
nominees (the so-called “nuclear option”).
You can reach your Senators’ offices through the Capitol
Switchboard at ( 202) 224-3121. Ask to be transferred to your
state’s two U.S. Senators.
Message: “I am a constituent of Senator _________,
and a social worker. I urge the Senator to vote against the
proposed rule change that would end current Senate procedure
requiring 60 Senators to end a filibuster on judicial nominees.”
Background
NASW opposes efforts to change U.S. Senate rules that have
worked for more than 200 years, allowing the minority party
to stop extremist judicial nominees through the filibuster.
The proposed rule change would deny Senators their longstanding
right to withhold approval of judicial nominees who are outside
the American mainstream.
There is no “judicial nominations crisis” as
claimed by proponents of the proposed rule change. More than
200 of the Administration’s judicial nominees have been
confirmed. Opponents have used the filibuster to oppose only
seven nominees who are extreme in their views on civil rights,
employment rights, and women’s rights. Seven extremist
nominees out of more than 200 is hardly an issue over which
the constitutional role of the Senate to ‘advise and
consent’ should be compromised by a radical change in
Senate procedures.
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