William H. Frist: “Well, I think we need to think how much we can do realistically this week. With that understanding and the backlog we…”

“Well, I think we need to think how much we can do realistically this week. With that understanding and the backlog we have on judges, if we can move those expeditiously--and we put in a plan or process to do so--we should do just that. We have had various offers from your side of the aisle on the Michigan judges and on Griffith, and now we have this memorandum of understanding for up- or-down votes on three other nominees we have been debating. Leadership to leadership, we ought to sit down and plan how we can deal with judges since we have waited a long time for these up-or-down votes and since offers have been made back and forth. In light of the understanding the 14 Senators came to, I think we should move expeditiously and address the judges who have been waiting a long time. At the same time, we have other very important business--John Bolton to be Ambassador to the U.N.--which we do need to address as well. As I say that, I want to make an appeal to Senators. A lot has been said about many of the judges, and I don't believe we have to say it again. Whether it is on Priscilla Owen, who I am confident will get an up-or-down vote, or on to some of the other judges, I want to make sure everything gets said. But on a lot of these, we have had a lot of debate. I would like to sit down with the Democratic leader, in light of the events of yesterday, and plan out this week so it will be productive.…”