GOP fails third try to force Owen vote

Republicans seeking again to focus attention on President Bush’s thwarted judicial nominees failed Tuesday for the third time to break a Democratic filibuster on the nomination of Texas Judge Priscilla Owen.
The Senate was seven votes shy of the 60 needed to bring a quick end to debate, leaving the nomination in legislative limbo.

The vote on Owen — a Texas Supreme Court justice nominated for the U.S. 5th District Court of Appeals in New Orleans — was the first of four floor votes scheduled this week on Bush judicial selections who have provoked partisan division. They include the nomination of Alabama Attorney General William Pryor to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta.

As in previous votes, Sens. Zell Miller of Georgia and Ben Nelson of Nebraska were the only Democrats joining the Republican majority in favor of confirming Owen.