Group says Hatch 'paying blackmail' to end filibuster

WASHINGTON — The nation's largest conservative group worries aloud that Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch is about to pay off political extortion from Democrats to try to end their blocking of judicial nominees.

"This is tantamount to paying blackmail. It's the result of the Republican failure to take a more aggressive approach to the Democrats' unprecedented filibustering tactics," American Conservative Union Executive Director Richard Lessner said.

That came after reports that Hatch, R-Utah, is offering to create two new judgeships in Michigan to convince Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., to halt their two years of blocking of all of President Bush's judicial nominees from that state.

The pair complain that some Michigan nominees by former President Clinton never received a hearing from Republicans, so they in turn are blocking Bush's nominees with procedural tactics now.

One of the Clinton nominees who had been blocked was Helene White, who is married to a cousin of Levin. Speculation is that one of the new judgeships would go to her if a deal is struck.

"Sen. Hatch's willingness to capitulate to Sen. Levin's extortion is simply mind-boggling," Lessner said. He added that it comes as Democrats have blocked final votes on numerous nominees, and Hatch might be setting a bad precedent for all of them.

"We've seen such superb nominees as Miguel Estrada, Janice Rogers Brown, Priscilla Owen, Charles Pickering, Bill Pryor, Henry Saad and others subjected to orchestrated smear campaigns and character assassination. They've had their records distorted and lied about. And now, Sen. Hatch would reward such tawdry tactics?" he said.

While senators are not talking openly about the deal, Hatch has again placed the nomination of Saad — a Michigan nominee — on his committee's agenda for a possible confirmation vote on Thursday.

Action on it could show whether Hatch has made the controversial deal. However, Hatch has put Saad's name on the agenda six other times, only to withdraw it to allow further negotiations.

Margarita Tapia, spokeswoman for Hatch, said he "is working hard to confirm President Bush's judicial nominees," and "will continue to explore any reasonable option for ending the unacceptable impasse."

She added, "He has facilitated many discussions with that goal in mind, but has not made — and is not in any position to make — promises or deals that bind any unwilling party. Sen. Hatch continues to push hard for the Democrats to give up their damaging filibusters and allow a simple up-or-down vote for the president's fine judicial nominees."

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