Watson Coleman: “many years ago when the Senate was the Supreme Court's upstairs neighbor in this building, a significant event took…”

“many years ago when the Senate was the Supreme Court's upstairs neighbor in this building, a significant event took place which provides us with a warning. A young Architect of the Capitol wanted to improve the sight lines in the Supreme Court Chamber on the first floor. Calculating that one of the support pillars was unnecessary, he brought in a crew to remove it. Halfway through the project, the ceiling fell in on the Supreme Court Chamber, which was also the floor of the Senate above, destroying both Chambers for a period of time. The lesson is that when you tamper with one branch of Government, it can affect others in a way you cannot anticipate, and any attempt to tamper with the delicate balance of power must be met with suspicion and repelled with conviction. We are tampering with that balance when we now, through filibuster, require a supermajority to confirm a Federal court of appeals judge. President Bush did not get all the popular votes or all the electoral votes. The election was decided in an unprecedented manner. But when he was sworn in, he received all the constitutional powers of the Presidency. His ability to be the Commander in Chief is not partial. His ability to sign or veto legislation is not compromised. His ability to submit judicial nominees to this body for an up-or-down vote, something every President has exercised for over 200 years, is in no way limited.”