The nomination of Patricia Ann Millett, a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, to the  U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, was the straw that broke the elephant’s back. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., proposed reconsideration of her nomination, and the Senate voted 52 to 48 to allow a simple majority of its members (rather than the previously required 60) to end filibusters of nominations for executive offices and judicial appointees other than to the Supreme Court. Click here to see how often filibusters have been used since 1968 to block presidential appointments.

[RL]