William H. Frist: “today we will resume executive session to consider Priscilla Owen to be a U.S. circuit court judge for the Fifth…”

“today we will resume executive session to consider Priscilla Owen to be a U.S. circuit court judge for the Fifth Circuit. We will continue the debate, as we did yesterday, by rotating back and forth between the aisle every 60 minutes. I think this orderly flow of debate will be helpful in terms of scheduling Members' speaking times. It worked well yesterday, and I would expect it to be orderly today as well. I know there is a large number of Senators who have indicated their desire to speak, and we will remain on the nomination to give everyone a chance to fully voice their concerns and their discussion on this very qualified nominee. I am hopeful that at some point we will be able to schedule a vote on the nomination, and I will update Members later today on the upcoming schedule as it relates to the nomination of Priscilla Owen. Mr. President, I will have a brief statement--the Democratic leader and I were just discussing our plans--and then he will have a statement, and then at that juncture I believe we will proceed as we set out the time schedule yesterday, alternating back and forth. Mr. President, we did, yesterday, have a vibrant and spirited debate on the Senate floor. We have been debating a very simple principle--one based on fairness and one grounded in the Constitution. The principle is that judicial nominees, with the support of a majority of Senators, deserve a fair up-or-down vote on the floor of the Senate.…”