The Focus of Today's Session will be
Judicial Nominations

            3:15 P.M.         

Senator Frist and Senator Daschle have come to the floor to wrap up  Senate business for the week.  Senator Frist has filed cloture on the nomination of Thomas Dorr to be Under Secretary for the Department of Agriculture for Rural Development and on H.R.2115, the Aviation Administration Authorization Bill.   Senator Frist also made unanimous consent requests that H.R. 3182, S.1627, and S.1824 be passed.  No one objected.  H.R. 3182 will reauthorize the adoption incentive payments program under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act.  S.1627 would reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.  S.1824 would amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to reauthorize the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.  After these requests the Senate adjourned until Monday, November 17, at 12:00 when it will resume consideration of the VA-HUD appropriations bill.  Votes are expected beginning around 5:30 P.M.

            12:00 P.M.         

The Senate Guest Chaplain is currently reading the daily prayer.  Each morning the Senate opens with a prayer and recital of the Pledge of Allegiance.  Because the Senate has been in continuous session since Wednesday, the prayer is offered at 12:00 P.M.  Senators have the opportunity to come and speak on the floor as there is no pending business and no further roll call votes are expected today. 

            11:00 A.M.         

Senator Santorum is voicing his concerns about how he believes the recent votes will change the nature of the conformation process in the future.  His message has been "what is good for the goose, is good for the gander," and that if the parties change roles, that he expects Democratic nominations will be blocked.

            10:45 A.M.         

Senator Cantwell and Senator Ensign took a few minutes to discuss unemployment benefits.  Senator Ensign blocked a motion by Senator Cantwell to move to consideration of a bill that would extend unemployment benefit.  The Senate has completed its third roll call vote this morning, and voted not to invoke cloture on the nomination of Janice Brown to be a U.S. Circuit Court judge for the D.C. Circuit. 

            10:25 A.M.         

The Senate has just voted 53-43 not to end debate on the nomination of Carolyn Kuhl and is now voting on whether to end debate on the nomination of Janice Brown.

            10:10 A.M.         

The Senate has just started its second vote of the morning, on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Carolyn Kuhl.  By a vote of 53-42 cloture was not invoked on the nomination of Priscilla Owen.

            9:30 A.M.         

As the marathon of musings over judicial nominations draws to a close, members of both parties have been making their final statements.  Both party leaders, Senator Daschle and Senator Frist have spoken in the past twenty minutes, Senator Daschle focusing on the number of judges that the Senate has approved and Senator Frist speaking about how he believes this debate has been worthwhile. 

            8:45 A.M.         

Senator Leahy is currently speaking on the Senate floor about judicial nominations.  Senate debate continued once again throughout the evening without interruption, making this the 39th consecutive hour of debate over nominations.  No roll call votes were held although there was plenty of talking.  At 9:30 A.M. the Senate is expected to begin a series of roll call votes on whether to end debate on the nominations of Janice R. Brown, Carolyn Kuhl and Priscilla Owen. 

Article II, Section II of the U.S. Constitution

He (The President) shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.