Janice Schakowsky: “Senate Republicans are preparing to blow up 200 years of tradition in the U.S. Senate, abusing their power in order to…”

“Senate Republicans are preparing to blow up 200 years of tradition in the U.S. Senate, abusing their power in order to force through a few judges who have been unable to earn a bipartisan consensus for their lifetime judicial appointments. Democrats have helped confirm 95 percent of President Bush's judicial nominees. The few that our Democratic colleagues in the Senate have opposed are those who have had serious questions raised about their independence, fairness, and record on issues involving our most vital rights. Republicans are willing to attack the constitutional system of checks and balances and change the rules of the Senate in the middle of the game, all of this for seven extreme judges. Senate Republicans know full well the impact their nuclear option will have on the bipartisanship that is necessary for a productive and effective Senate, but they simply do not care. If Senate Republicans are successful at abolishing the rights of the minority, what is next? ____________________”