Cloture Vote to Take Place Today

This morning we were notified that the plan for a vote on cloture for Judge Alitos nomination is to take place today.  A formal vote on cloture will allow the Senate to then vote up-or-down on Sam Alitos nomination tomorrow.  As I am sure you have heard, over the weekend several senators announced their plan to initiate a filibuster.  At this point, Senators Kerry, Kennedy, Clinton and Feinstein seem to be leading the filibuster effort.

If a filibuster was successful, it would deny an up-or-down vote on Judge Alito.  However, based on our work last week and over the weekend, it appears that there are not the 40 votes necessary to sustain a filibuster.  Our Governmental Affairs office will be working on ensuring that cloture takes place today and that a filibuster does not move forward.

As it stands right now, this is the second-longest confirmation battle in Supreme Court history--the only longer fight was over the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court of the United States.  I am actually quite optimistic that our efforts, along with those of others, will produce a superb nominee to the Supreme Court of the United States.  I am encouraged by the direction of the Supreme Court, especially with cases like partial-birth abortion and the Ten Commandments on the way to the Courts docket. 

The Court and the country are at a critical crossroads.  Groups on the left who have tried to derail Judge Alitos nomination have been unsuccessful, in large part, because of our friends and members around the country who have rallied to support this exceptional nominee.  I will keep everyone posted as the vote progresses this evening.