Senate leader won't back off no-filibuster stance Frist makes compromise offer, but Democrat ridicules it

WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist refused to budgeThursday on his demand that Democrats forgo filibusters against allof President Bush's past or present appeals court nominations.

"Throughout this debate, we have held firm to a simple principle,judicial nominees deserve up-or-down votes," Frist said.

He offered to allow senators to retain the right to filibusterDistrict Court nominees as part of an arrangement in whichconfirmation votes would be guaranteed on the nation's highestjudgeships after 100 hours of debate.

The Senate's top Republican also said that under his plan,senators would no longer be able to block nominees in the …