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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A coalition of conservative groups wants time set aside later this month for debate on the proposed constitutional amendment to be spent instead on pending judicial nominations.
At least 100 groups signed a letter that was to be sent Tuesday to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.; Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah and the Senate sponsor of the amendment; and all the Republican senators.
Among the groups were the Third Branch Conference, Coalitions for America, American Family Association, 60 Plus Association and the Family Research Council.
The groups do not oppose the amendment, which would allow Congress to pass a law outlawing the physical desecration of the U.S. flag, but say a majority of conservatives would rather see the time spent on getting judges approved, the Deseret Morning News reported.
"You are planning to devote valuable Senate floor time to debating a flag-desecration constitutional amendment," according to the letter. "While most of us would support such an amendment, we believe this is a misguided use of time."
Out of 125 conservative organization leaders who responded to a survey on whether the flag-burning amendment is a priority to get done before Nov. 1, only 18 put it toward the top of the list, according to the letter. And those 18 agreed to put judges over the flag amendment when told to pick between the two.
"We all agree that debate on judicial nominations is time better spent, and time well spent early to build up steam," according to the letter.
The letter points to 9th Circuit nominee William Myers, and 4th Circuit nominees Terrence Boyle and William Haynes as those waiting for confirmation that should be addressed.
Hatch said, "There's no reason why we can't consider the flag amendment along with pending judicial nominations.
"Ultimately, the majority leader runs the floor schedule. He knows that with 60 senators publicly behind the amendment, and several more who have voted for it in the past, we're primed to bring this to the floor for a vote. But that doesn't mean we can't consider nominations as well."
Third Branch Conference Chairman Manuel Miranda, a former Hatch aide, said time is precious on the Senate's election-year calendar and that the flag amendment is "kind of yesterday's issue."
Frist's office said he has not seen the letter yet but is committed to the judicial nominees and the flag amendment.
"Both issues are important," a spokeswoman said.
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Information from: Deseret Morning News, http://www.deseretnews.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
