Senate GOP Retaliates Over Judges

WASHINGTON (AP) - Republicans shut down three Senate committees Wednesday, 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 Republican Leader Trent Lott. "We will continue to call attention to this issue."

Republicans halted three Democrat-controlled committees: Judiciary; Governmental Affairs; and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.