In one of the longest votes of recent memory, the Senate Judiciary Committee today is allowing its members 10 minutes each to announce their vote and the reasons behind it, before actually voting later this afternoon.
Most of the GOP members have not used the full 10 minutes, with Orrin Hatch coming in at just over 2 minutes used. All of the Dems have used the full time, and have split 3 for, 5 against:
All GOP For (10 members)
Dems For (3 of 8)
Leahy (VT)
Kohl (WI)
Feingold (WI)
Dems Against (5 of 8)
Kennedy (MA)
Biden (DE)
Feinstein (CA)
Schumer (NY)
Durbin (IL)
For a final tally of 13-5, or not that much different than when Roberts was up for the D.C. Circuit two years ago, when he got 3 no votes in committee before being approved unanimously by voice vote on the floor of the Senate. (Feinstein & Biden voted for Roberts in committee in 2003)
The Dems voting For the nomination have left a caveat to allow them to vote against a future nomination solely on the basis of a White House refusing to share privileged documents, as they did in this case with the Solicitor General's office memos.
We know Wisconsin almost went Red last November, and is trending that direction. I think that helped give Kohl and Feingold an excuse to support Roberts. One of the two is up next year for re-election.
12;55pm: the vote is done, 13-5, and the nomination has been forwarded favorably to the Senate Floor.
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