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Sierra Club Grassroots Email Express

May 20, 2005

Volume 3  No. 12

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Take Action: Preserve Democracy in the Senate!

THE ISSUE

ACT now!  We need your help to preserve debate and democracy in the Senate by asking Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins to oppose the "nuclear option."

For months, the issue of judicial confirmations has been simmering in the Senate. Now, it seems that the majority is prepared to bring the situation to a boil by enacting the "nuclear option," which would bar judicial filibusters by the minority and enable the Bush administration to confirm whomever it wants.

The Sierra Club opposes the nuclear option because federal judges are appointed for life and are increasingly influential in U.S. environmental policy...

WHAT YOU CAN DO

à  Sign the Sierra Club Petition now:

http://www.sierraclub.org/petition/filibuster

à  Read an Op Ed in the Bangor Daily News by George Mitchell, former Maine Senator and Senate Majority Leader:

http://www.bangornews.com/news/templates/?a=113593&z=35

BACKGROUND

Never before have the federal courts played such an important role in protecting our clean air, drinking water, and treasured natural places.

Federal judges are appointed for life, which means that judges who are confirmed this year could easily influence U.S. environmental policy for decades. Already, the laws that guarantee clean air and clean water are under attack and the courts could play a key role in upholding these vital protections.

In an effort to rush through nominees who will put our rights and protections at risk, the majority leadership is now trying to change the rules in the middle of the game by limiting debate and silencing the voice of the minority. This move, dubbed the "nuclear option", because of its devastating impact on our democracy, is a dire threat to the 200-year old system of checks and balances on which our government is based.  

The Senate has confirmed over 200 of President Bush's judicial choices, rejecting only a handful of nominees whose records raised concerns about threats to environmental protections, workers' rights and other key freedoms.  If the ability to debate judicial nominees is eliminated, there is no guarantee that the minority in the Senate will retain its right to debate other Presidential nominees or, even more frightening, proposed legislation.

Sierra Club has joined a broad coalition of over 50 organizations that are working to stop this plan to change the rules.  We need your help to put as much pressure as possible on your Senators to preserve the democratic process.  

Too much is at stake to rush the Senate into appointing judges who oppose protections for clean air, clean water and our natural heritage.  Stop the Senate "Nuclear Option."

FOR INFORMATION

For more information, contact the Maine Sierra Club at maine.chapter@sierraclub.org or (207) 761-5616

Maine Chapter Sierra Club

One Pleasant Street

Portland ME 04101

phone: (207) 761-5616

fax: (207) 773-6690

email: Maine.chapter@sierraclub.org

web: http://maine.sierraclub.org