In payback, Republicans shut down 3 Senate committees

WASHINGTON - Republicans shut down three Senate committees yesterday, two of which were considering Enron-related legislation, to retaliate against Democrats who voted down a federal appeals court nominee.



''Senate Republicans strongly believe that we should have an understanding on when President Bush's circuit court nominees, many of whom have been languishing in the Judiciary Committee for almost a year, will get hearings and be treated fairly,'' said Ron Bonjean, a spokesman for minority leader Trent Lott, Republican of Mississippi. ''We will continue to call attention to this issue.''

Republicans halted the proceedings of the Judiciary, Governmental Affairs, and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committees. The Judiciary Committee last week voted down Charles Pickering, a US Appeals Court nominee who is a friend of Lott. Since then, Republicans have threatened payback to the Democratic majority by slowing down Senate proceedings and blocking Democratic nominees.

The shutdown came before a vote could be taken in the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on a bill that would limit employer stock in 401(k) plans. Republicans objected to Senate committees and hearings running more than two hours yesterday, forcing an end to the meeting. Another meeting was called for this morning.

''All they're doing is delaying the inevitable,'' said Jim Manley, a spokesman for committee chairman Edward M. Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat.