[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 11, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H3117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         REPUBLICAN CHANGE OF FILIBUSTER RULE IS ABUSE OF POWER

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, Republicans have become so arrogant with 
their absolute power here in Washington that whenever they do not get 
their way, they try to change the rules of the game. In January, House 
Republicans ignored protocol and weakened the ethics rules in order to 
protect one of their leaders, and now Senate Republicans are preparing 
to change the filibuster rule which has been in place beyond anyone's 
memory.
  Republicans say Senate Democrats are preventing President Bush's 
judicial appointments from taking the bench, but let us set the record 
straight.
  During President Bush's first 4 years in office, the Senate confirmed 
204 of his 214 nominees; that is a 95 percent confirmation rate.

                              {time}  1015

  The Senate has been so productive in approving Bush's nominees that 
the Federal court vacancy rate is at its lowest point in 15 years.
  Mr. Speaker, the filibuster has been used by Democrats and 
Republicans for 200 years to protect the rights of the minority party. 
After 2 centuries, it would be a mistake and an extreme abuse of power 
by Senate Republicans to change the rules now and eliminate this 
important check and balance.

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