From CNN.com:

"A longtime Republican foe of this year's planned closing of military bases is trying to derail the process by blocking Senate confirmation of the head of the commission that helps pick which facilities will be shuttered, congressional aides and lobbyists said Thursday. Two weeks ago, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved President Bush's nomination of Anthony Principi, Bush's former secretary of veterans affairs, to be chairman of the commission overseeing the process. The full Senate was expected to vote on the nomination last month before lawmakers left for a holiday break.

But Lott has placed a "hold" on the nomination, said aides and lobbyists speaking on condition of anonymity. The procedural move makes it hard for the Senate to vote on it. They say Lott is expected to try to delay the confirmation of the other eight nominees once the Senate Armed Services Committee approves them."

Wouldn't this be using procedural rules to block a vote on Bush nominees? This isn't exactly the same as using a filibuster to prevent judicial nominees from coming to a vote. That takes more than one person. This does, however, illustrate a growing trend. Recent Republican actions seem to be saying, "we like the rules when they get us what we want." If the rules get in the way then they should either be changed or circumvented. Since Lott obviously embraces the concept of using procedural rules to advance his cause by preventing a vote, shouldn't he share his support by asking his brethren in the Senate to leave the rules in place that would allow the same situation?

¶ 4/01/2005 09:22:00 AM

Post a Comment