Senate Breaks A Judicial Logjam
Parties Raise A Record $900 Million
Senate Breaks A Judicial Logjam
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 20) -- On a 76-23 vote, the Senate has approved its first judicial nominee in six months, clearing the way for Justice Department lawyer Merrick Garland to join the Court of Appeals' District of Columbia Circuit. Last year, the GOP-controlled Senate approved only 17 judges, holding off to see if Bob Dole would win the White House. Garland, who was nominated by President Bill Clinton 18 months ago, was also caught up in Republican discontent over Clinton's judicial picks in general.
Parties Raise A Record $900 Million
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 20) -- Together the Democrats and Republicans raised a record $900 million for the 1996 election, according to a new Federal Election Commission (FEC) report. More than one-quarter of the total -- $262.1 million -- came in the form of so-called "soft money," unrestrained by normal campaign law limits. The GOP outraised Democrats, $554.7 million to $345.5 million, although Democrats are under more heat for fund-raising abuses, including rewarding donors with stays at the White House and accepting money from overseas sources. One big change from 1992 was the rapid growth of soft money; the $262.1 million is roughly three times what the parties collected four years ago. The FEC report covers a two-year period between Jan. 1, 1995 and Dec. 31, 1996.
A Temporary Replacement For Gorelick
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 20) -- The Justice Department attorney who Wednesday argued the government's case in the Internet free speech dispute gets another big assignment today. Justice Department sources say Deputy Solicitor General Seth Waxman will be named Janet Reno's interim deputy. Waxman will serve as acting deputy Attorney General, replacing the departing Jamie Gorelick until the Senate confirms her successor this spring. Eric Holder, the U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., is expected to face little opposition when he faces confirmation proceedings as Reno's permanent deputy.
Watch Out For High-Speed Dirt
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 20) -- Former President George Bush plans to jump out of a airplane next week over Yuma, Ariz. The 72-year-old Bush will reportedly skydive on Tuesday with a purpose in mind, but Bush spokesman Jim McGrath declined to disclose what that purpose might be. "We plan to save the big surprise until the day of the jump," McGrath told CNN, suggesting people should "stay tuned" for the reason. The former president will be jumping with some expert civilian parachutists as well as members of the Army's precision skydiving team, "The Golden Knights," one of the perks of being a former president. Bush will be 73 on June 12.