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Krause Campaign: Statement by U. S. Senate candidate Bob Krause on the ‘nuclear option’ and Senator Shelby’s block on appointees
2/9/2010

STATEMENT BY BOB KRAUSE Democratic Candidate, United States Senate



"With the advice and consent of the Senate, the President may appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States whose appointments are not otherwise described in the Constitution."

--Article 2: Executive Power, United States Constitution Bob Krause, Democratic Candidate for U. S. Senate, today called on the Democratic senators in the United States Senate to use the so-called "nuclear option" in the battle with Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama over his hold on all Obama Administration appointees. Senator Shelby reportedly put on the holds recently due to a local matter affecting a campaign donor -- an aircraft contractor in Alabama -- as a negotiating tactic.

His statement in its entirely follows:

“In 2005, when then-Majority Leader Bill Frist (Republican of Tennesse) threatened use of the “nuclear option” to end Democratic-led filibusters of judicial nominees submitted by President George W. Bush in response to this threat, Democrats threatened to shut down the Senate and prevent consideration of all routine and legislative Senate business. This was stopped by an agreement among key Democrats and Republicans in order to maintain the 60 vote precedent on court appointees.

“In the “nuclear option,” 51 votes in the Senate can theoretically end a filibuster on nominees, but the technique has never been used. In the “nuclear option,” it can be achieved by invoking a point of order to essentially declare the filibuster unconstitutional. This can be decided by a simple majority, rather than seeking formal cloture with a super-majority of 60 senators. The procedure is the subject of a 1957 parliamentary opinion and has been used on several occasions since.

"Despite the potential consequences, and in spite of partisan differences, I believe the Republicans who advocated the “nuclear option” in 2005 were right. Even when I disagree, I do not think that it is right for a minority to over-rule the majority, as has been done in the United States Senate in recent years. We have to create a decision where those who are in power can govern -- no matter to which party they belong.

“We cannot criticize President Obama for not governing decisively if we deny him the appointments he needs to run his administration.

If we are to maintain a democracy, we have to allow the winner of the election to govern, regardless of whether the winner is a Democrat or a Republican.”

Contact: Keith Dinsmore 573-230-5360 keith@krauseforiowa.com


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