Kerry email on the filibuster

[whometense]

Not a johnkerry.com email - this is a constituent email responding to the one I wrote him supporting his position. THought you guys might enjoy reading it.

Dear Ms. xxxxxxxx:

Thank you for your interest in the Senate filibuster and the so-called "nuclear option." I oppose this dangerous power grab by the majority party.

For the past 200 years, Senators in theminority party have used extended debate-also known as the filibuster-in rare circumstances, particularly when important decisions with far reaching consequences are in front of the Senate. To reach final passage on legislation or a nomination, 60 Senators must vote to end debate. Thus, the filibuster allows the minority party to have a voice in Senate proceedings.

Despite this long tradition of checks and balances, some members of the Senate--with the full support of the White House--have proposed a parliamentary procedure, known as the "nuclear option," to eliminate the use of the filibuster when considering judicial nominations. They argue that this is necessary because the filibuster has been used to stop 10 of President Bush's judicial nominees, and that this has created a crisis on the federal courts. That is wrong.

As of April, 2005, close to 90% of the President's judicial nominees have been confirmed. The federal courts' current vacancy rate is the lowest it's been since the 1980's. Rather than creating a crisis in
the federal courts, the minority party has used the filibuster to ensure that only qualified jurists were placed on the federal bench. Those nominees we have rejected are extreme, ideologically driven individuals.

One of the president's nominees took contributions from Enron and Halliburton and then ruled in their favor. Another fought against implementing the Voting Rights Act and manipulated the judicial system to reduce the sentence of a convicted cross-burner. And others have been deemed "unqualified" by numerous members of the impartial American Bar Association. I don't think the Senate should change the rules to get these judges lifetime appointments on important appellate court benches.

The majority's plan to eliminate the filibuster is really an attempt to pack the courts with judges who will uphold administration policies and ideology at all costs. In fact, Representative Tom Delay, who supports the nuclear option, has sharply criticized one of President Reagan's appointees to the Supreme Court for failing to adhere to his party's most conservative views. Others have talked of impeaching
judges and dismantling courts. It is a radical agenda that will destroy 200 years of Senate tradition and undermine our Founding
Fathers' intent that the Senate be a place where all of America is heard and respected and that the courts be independent.

I will support the use of the filibuster to protect the voice of every American in the Senate, and I will continue to support judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution.

Thank you again for your interest in this issue.

Sincerely,

John F. Kerry
United States Senator