From Deseret News archives:
Flag debate may be superseded
At least 100 groups signed a letter to be sent to Frist, R-Tenn.; Hatch, R-Utah; and all the Republican senators today by the Third Branch Conference, Coalitions for America, American Family Association, 60 Plus Association, the Family Research Council and a long list of others.
The groups do not oppose Hatch's proposed constitutional amendment, which would allow Congress to pass a law outlawing the physical desecration of the U.S. flag, but say a majority of conservatives would rather see the time spent on getting judges approved.
"You are planning to devote valuable Senate floor time to debating a flag-desecration constitutional amendment," according to the letter. "While most of us would support such an amendment, we believe this is a misguided use of time."
Out of 125 conservative organization leaders who responded to a survey on whether the flag-burning amendment is a priority to get done before Nov. 1, only 18 put it toward the top of the list, according to the letter. But all 18 agreed to put judges over the flag amendment when told to pick between the two.
The letter points to 9th Circuit nominee William Myers, and 4th Circuit nominees Terrence Boyle and William Haynes as those waiting for confirmation that should be addressed.
"There's no reason why we can't consider the flag amendment along with pending judicial nominations," Hatch said. "Ultimately, the majority leader runs the floor schedule. He knows that with 60 senators publicly behind the amendment, and several more who have voted for it in the past, we're primed to bring this to the floor for a vote. But that doesn't mean we can't consider nominations as well."
The amendment had 58 co-sponsors last week, but Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., signed on as a co-sponsor Monday moving it up to 59, with Hatch's support making it 60. It will need 67 votes to pass.
Third Branch Conference Chairman Manuel Miranda said "time is precious" on the Senate's election-year calendar and that the flag amendment is "kind of yesterday's issue" so he would rather see the time spent on filling the vacant bench positions.
Miranda, a former Hatch aide who resigned from a position in Frist's office in 2004 amidst a scandal involving accessing Democrat computer files on judicial nominees, said this is nothing personal but that Hatch just happens to be tied to the amendment the majority of the group's members think should be put on hold at least for now.
"These are important times and that's just the way it is," Miranda said.
Frist's office said he has not seen the letter yet but is committed to the judicial nominees and the flag amendment.
"Both issues are important," a spokeswoman said.
E-mail: suzanne@desnews.com
Comments
- Bowl forecast: Utah, BYU are top... 8:00 p.m.
- Kirilenko climbing blocks list 7:51 p.m.
- RSL defied doubters to win title 7:47 p.m.
- Preps of the week 7:45 p.m.
- Brad Rock: Rock On 7:40 p.m.
- Fall sports academic all-state 7:25 p.m.
- Welcome home RSL photo gallery 7:13 p.m.
- Truck driver dies in rollover 6:34 p.m.
- Girls basketball rankings 6:31 p.m.
- Boys basketball rankings 6:26 p.m.
- Real Champions
- Bronco, Kyle rubber match
- Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
- RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
- BYU's Lamb, Jorgensen reprimanded
- Plenty on line for rivalry game
- Time for big matchups in WAC, MWC
- BCS at-large bids up for grabs
- Hall, Johnson matchup key
- Is talking about religion taboo?
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
214 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
212 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
193 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - BYU records with win
132 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
131 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
125 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
103 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
99
Associated Press Personal Finance Writer Candice Choi offers gift-giving...
i agree with emery girl 100% kim parker is outta here, emery is gonna rock,...
go to the ksl website to see the freekin awesome catch. I dont even like juan...
The world is going to end in 2012 anyways!!! Haven't you read?
Cut Blocks are legal, period. Ever seen a running back try to take on a D...
Hatch deserves to be censured for the HOLY WAR comment. It would be an even...
In 2006 and 2007 when BYU was winning MWC titles yet needed LUCKY to pull out...
@Anonymous 1:34 p.m.: "Go (sic) she ran a business poorly." She ran the...
I guess it's rivalry week, because all the comments I've read today have been...
If I may offer a bit of education to the misinformed... An LDS meeting house...
Springville should be #1 in 4A.



You can be the first to comment on this story.