New Mexicans for a Fair and Independent Judiciary
Po Box 97, Albuquerque, NM 87103 PH: 505-243-4443
May 3, 2005 Contact: Giovanna Rossi
(505) 620-6030
MEDIA ADVISORY
WHAT: New Mexicans for a Fair and Independent Judiciary to Urge Senator Domenici to Keep Rules that Have Always Guaranteed that the Most Controversial Judicial Nominees Could not Pass on a Partisan Party-line Vote.
WHEN: Thursday May 5, 2005 12:00 noon
WHERE: Meet outside Sen. Domenici’s office, 201 3rd St. NW, Albuquerque (NW corner of 3rd and Copper)
WHY: To urge Senator Domenici to preserve Senate checks and balances and oppose the nuclear option.
Next week, Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) is expected to execute his plan to upset Senate checks and balances and change the time-honored Senate rules that allow lawmakers to filibuster judicial nominees. This so-called nuclear option would eliminate senators’ most powerful line of defense against nominees including Bush’s eventual Supreme Court nominees who are out of touch with American values.
If Sen. Frist’s proposal gets enough votes, Senate moderates will have virtually no chance to block President Bush’s ideologically extreme nominees; it is imperative that senator Domenici hears from his constituents in opposition to this drastic rule change NOW.
“This remarkable abuse of power would let Bush and Senate Republicans change the rules in the middle of the game to clear the way for Supreme Court Justices who are right wing extremists” stated Giovanna Rossi of NARAL Pro-Choice New Mexico, a lead organizer of New Mexicans for a Fair and Independent Judiciary.
Coalition partners include:
NARAL Pro-Choice NM, AFSCME Council 18, AFT (NMEE), NM Coalition Against Domestic Violence, NM Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, NM Progressive Alliance for Community Empowerment, National Women’s Political Caucus-NM, Homeless Advocacy Coalition, Inc, Albuquerque Rape Crisis Center, Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice, NM Federation of Labor Retiree Council, NM Alliance for Retired Americans.
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