In response to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s move to hold up Senate business by requiring the clerk to read a 500-page amendment, People For the American Way President Kathryn Kolbert released the following statement:

“Once again, the Senate Republicans are throwing a fit, demanding to have more Bush judicial nominees confirmed in the waning months of President Bush’s term. This time, they’re gumming up the works in the Senate with a parliamentary maneuver, effectively shutting down the Senate as it works on the global warming bill.”

“The Senate shouldn’t be held up by partisans trying to prolong the fading Bush presidency by demanding that the Senate confirm controversial judges nominated by a lame duck with the lowest approval ratings in recorded history.

“We have called on Senator Harry Reid to stop the confirmation of controversial judges in this bitter partisan atmosphere. We applaud him for resisting Senator McConnell’s pressure tactics.”