Reid Surprises Republicans With Post-Filibuster Relief for All Americans

A Washington Post-ABC News poll over the weekend showed that 66% of Americans oppose changing Senate rules to make it easier for Republicans to confirm's Bush judicial nominees. Only 26% support changing Senate rules to eliminate the filibuster.

Behind-the-scenes negotiations between Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid and Bush pal, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist are rumored to be intense and complex. On DailyKos, it's reported that Reid extended an offer on behalf of Senate Democrats to confirm all but 2 of the 10 Bush judical nominees previously spurned by the Senate. Kos reported at mid-day that Frist has turned down the Democratic offer of conciliation.

If Senate Republicans refuse to negotiate a compromise, it's assumed that Senator Frist will use the "nuclear option" of voting to eliminate the 200-year Senate filibuster tradition, thus likely allowing confirmation of all Bush judicial nominees. All this despite strong bipartisan public disapproval of such a radical move by Republicans.

On Monday, Senator Reid surprised the Frist-led Republicans by announcing intention to invoke little known Senate Rule XIV, if Republicans do eliminate the fiilbuster. Under this rule, Reid will move forward with the "Promise of America" agenda, 9 new legislative bills granting to all Americans emergency relief from conditions caused by the Bush Administration.

Said Reid, "We don't have a judicial crisis in this country. We recently saw the lowest vacancy rate on our courts in 14 years. What we have is a Republican party abusing its power in an attempt to stack the courts....

If Republicans go ahead and break the rules, Democrats are going to use the rules to fight for relief at the gas pump, stronger schools, lower health care costs and a range of other issues important to the American people."

Frankly, the 9 new "Promise of America" bills are exciting and desperately-needed relief for all middle class and poverty-level Americans. The bills offer immediate assistance on gas pump price relief, education, veterans' benefits, US troops, womens' health care needs and more.

Be sure to read an interesting summary by Senator Reid of each of these relief bills. Then join in the lively discussion about this at our Forum.