Judicial Committee Watch: Hatch is Negotiating with "Terrorists"
The top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee is negotiating with Sen. Carl Levin, Michigan Democrat, to add as many as two new Michigan-based federal judgeships in exchange for lifting a filibuster against all of President Bush's judicial nominees from that state.
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Several Republicans presumed that the new appellate-court seat would go to Michigan Judge Helene White, who was nominated by President Clinton in 1997 but never given a hearing by Republicans. Judge White is married to Mr. Levin's cousin.
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Generally speaking, Mr. Hatch said, he wants to "resolve this without poking anybody in the eye."
If both seats are added, the first year cost to taxpayers would be more than $1.8 million to pay the new judges, clerks and offices, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Once established, the combined annual cost of the two seats would be more than $1.6 million.
Such a deal would also give bragging rights to Mr. Levin, who has faced criticism at home for stalling the nominations and for the growing backlog of unheard cases resulting from the court vacancies.
Upon learning of the negotiations yesterday, several Republicans privately expressed outrage at the prospect of Mr. Levin being rewarded for the two-year blockade.
The discussions were denounced as "blackmail talks."
"Any sort of working on deals is not part of the normal process," said one Judiciary Committee staffer. "This is not something that most conservative Republicans would approve of."
Get the rest of this story from the Washington Times
Matt's Chat
That Mr. Hatch is even considering brokering a deal is ridiculous. He needs to make them filibuster if that is what they intend to do. As it stands now, it would appear that Mr. Levin is already under some pressure to get this resolved by his constituency; and as he is the main concern, why cave now? Now is the time to make him filibuster and look foolish back home.Mark's Remarks
This is an outrage!!! Mr. Hatch is selling the soul of the party for politics. I agree with my colleague...Instead of negotiating with these hateful, racebaiting Senators from the Democrats, we should instead be making them filibuster, showing them to be nothing more than the political blackmailers they are, nothing more than vindictive people who care not for our system but about their own selves, who care nothing for advancing the cause of justice and being stewards of our system, but who care only for gaining power. Shame on Mr. Hatch for even thinking of doing such a thing.The Republicans need to grow a backbone and make these idiots filibuster, and send feeds into the home states of the morons who would be doing it, instead of catering to them. Otherwise, it is like spoiling a child....if you reward their behavior, they will continue to do it, even if you say"dont do it again." WE have to stand up to them....
