SJR 33-CONGRESSIONAL VOTE ON JUDICIAL NOMINATION  CHAIR GARY STEVENS announced SJR 33 to be up for consideration and there was a committee substitute (CS). SENATOR JOHN COWDERY motioned to adopt CS for SJR 33, version \D. There being no objection, it was so ordered. BRIAN HOVE, staff to Senator Ralph Seekins, read the sponsor statement into the record. SJR 33 respectfully requests the U.S. Senate move forward with President Bush's judicial nominations. Our U.S. Constitution provides the President with the power to nominate qualified candidates for federal judicial positions with the consent of the Senate. But, many of these nominations are currently being blocked through parliamentary delay tactics carried out by a minority of senators. This has created needless hardship within the judiciary branch of our government. In fact, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts has classified 22 judgeships as judicial emergencies. Many of President Bush's nominees are intended to fill these seats. Furthermore, a majority of the United States Senate stands ready to approve these individuals. Nevertheless, they, and the judiciary branch they are to serve, remain mired in political limbo. SJR 33 requests the U.S. Senate move forward with these nominations thus allowing the judicial branch to function as the Constitution intended. MR. HOVE reported that the \D version simply provides number and percentage updates of as of 4/27/04. Everything else is the same. SENATOR GRETCHEN GUESS pointed to page 1, line 16 and remarked that her research indicates that three of the six judicial nominees referred to have neither partisan nor bipartisan support. MR. HOVE said that the resolution is simply asking for a vote on the nominees. SENATOR GUESS stated for the record that, "It's my opinion that at least on three of the nominations there's not 51, let alone 60 [votes] of support." There are rules and there are rules for a reason, she said. The system works when people know and play by the rules. Not everything gets to the floor and not everything gets to committee. It's bothersome, however, when state time is spent to pass a resolution that is partisan in nature. It's curious that the general theme of blocked nominations isn't addressed. The resolution speaks to just the current administration. In conclusion she said, "I just don't think it's good for this body to be doing things like this. If we want to put something together that shows a problem and you're going to show one side or the other then that's fine, but this doesn't. ... I think it's for show and I don't think it helps the body at all." CHAIR GARY STEVENS said he understood her concern and asked if she would be more comfortable with changes in the wording. SENATOR GUESS said she would like to go back to President Clinton's era and show what happened and then show what's happening to President Bush's nominations because the pattern is the same. Although she offered to work with the sponsor to make changes, she respects his desire to make no changes. CHAIR GARY STEVENS stated for the record that the bill moves to the Judiciary Committee next. There were no further questions. SENATOR COWDERY motioned to report CSSJR 33(STA), \D version from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. SENATOR GUESS objected. CHAIR GARY STEVENS called for a roll call vote. CSSJR 33(STA), \D version moved from committee with Senators Cowdery, Stedman, and Chair Gary Stevens voting yea and Senator Guess voting nay.