Call Today! Urge Senators to Save the Filibuster, Save our Courts Tell Senators: No Deal is Better than a Bad Deal
May, 2005

The nuclear countdown has begun. Majority Leader Senator Frist has begun Senate debate on one of the presidents most controversial judicial nominees and has indicated that early next week he will invoke the nuclear option by breaking more than 200-year old Senate rules in order to eliminate senators ability to filibuster controversial judicial nominees. There are reports that a handful of senators are negotiating, attempting to find a compromise deal that would avert this nuclear showdown. And while it is important that senators continue to negotiate in good faith, it is essential that the filibuster is preserved. We must also protect the principles that are threatened by these out-of-the-mainstream judicial nominees.

Call Today! Call the senators listed below and tell them:

1. No Deal is Better than a Bad Deal Many of the compromise deals that the negotiators are rumored to be considering are unacceptable because they would allow too many extremist judges to be confirmed, without fully preserving senators right to filibuster judicial nominees including Supreme Court nominees.
2. Preserve the Filibuster The filibuster a unique tool of the Senate helps protect the minority party against the tyranny of the majority. Eliminating senators ability to filibuster would set a dangerous precedent: If the rules for judicial nominations are changed, what is to stop the Republican leadership from using a slim majority to rubber-stamp other controversial measures or a Supreme Court nominee?
3. Protect our Courts & the Principles that are at Stake The federal courts are our last line of defense for civil and human rights, women's rights, workers rights, environmental protection, and other fundamental freedoms. The Senate has confirmed more than 200 of President Bush's nominees, using the filibuster to block just seven all of whom are unfit or unqualified to serve lifetime appointments.

The Senate must continue to stand strong in opposing out-of-the-mainstream nominees who threaten these rights and protections, including:

• Janice Rogers Brown (nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit), who has suggested that the Social Security system is unconstitutional and accused senior citizens of "blithely cannibaliz[ing] their grandchildren;"
• Priscilla Owen (nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit), who has been repeatedly chided for trying to rewrite or override the law to suit her conservative ideological vision; William Myers III (nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit), who has consistently favored the interests of industry over Native American rights and the environment, and;
• William Pryor (nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit), whose record demonstrates a commitment to rolling back federal protections against discrimination based on race, gender, age, and disability.

Call and tell these senators not to compromise away their rights and our protections.

Sen. Kent Conrad (ND) 202-224-2043
Sen. Daniel Inouye (HI) 202-224-3934
Sen. Mary Landrieu (LA) 202-224-5824
Sen. Blanche Lincoln (AR) 202-224-4843
Sen. Ben Nelson (NE) 202-224-6551
Sen. Mark Pryor (AR) 202-224-2353
Sen. Ken Salazar (CO) 202-224-5852

Tell senators:
1) no deal is better than a bad deal;
2) preserve the filibuster; and
3) protect our courts from extremists.

For more information about the nuclear option or the importance of a fair and independent judiciary, visit Save Our Courts website.

Sign the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights petition urging the Senate to preserve the filibuster and protect the principles that are stake.

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