Senate Democrats Block Votes on 3 Judges

[maddezmom]

By DEE-ANN DURBIN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats blocked three more of President Bush (news - web sites)'s judicial nominees Thursday in a series of votes forced by Republicans even though they knew they would lose.



Through procedural votes, the Senate refused to consider three Michigan jurists Bush wanted to put on the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (news - web sites). Republicans needed 60 votes to advance the nominees but could not come up with more than 54 on behalf of any of them.


Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said Republican leaders' decision to hold votes they knew they could not win is a political move intended to rally conservatives and hurt Democrats in the November election.


The Senate voted 52-46 to proceed with a vote on Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Henry Saad's nomination, 54-44 on Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Richard Griffin and 53-44 on promoting U.S. District Court Judge David McKeague.

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