Northern New England senators from both parties applauded a compromise that averted – at least for now – a showdown over filibusters to block some of President Bush’s judicial nominees.

Maine Republicans Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe were among a bipartisan group of 14 senators that brokered the last-minute deal, which set the stage for votes on three nominees.

In a statement, Collins said the agreement helps preserve the Senate’s “unique culture … built upon a foundation of collegiality and cooperation that transcends partisanship.”

“It is a culture in which legislative goals are reached with patience and perseverance, and through the art of negotiation and compromise,” she said.

Snowe said the arrangement “reflects and protects the best traditions of the Senate. … we have reaffirmed that, while our constitutional democracy is premised on majority rule, it is also grounded in a commitment to minority rights.”

Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire called the deal “generally positive,” though he was skeptical of how long it would last.

“I see it sort of as a punt where we picked up some field positions. We’re getting three judges who were being filibustered vociferously by the Democrats.”

“I don’t think it resolves the bigger issue, in any way, of the Supreme Court,” Gregg said. “When we get to the Supreme Court, I think all bets are off.”

Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy was more positive.

“With this agreement, the Senate remains a viable check against an abuse of power and the Republican majority’s bid for one-party rule,” Leahy said in a statement. “The ‘nuclear option’ has been averted, preserving the crucial rights of the minority that have been a hallmark of the Senate for more than 200 years.”

“The spirit of this agreement is simple: the filibuster should not be used to set a 60-vote threshold for appeals court and Supreme Court nominees. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the United States Senate won’t be in the same place three to six months from now.

“Only time will tell whether the senators who reached this compromise will keep their commitment, allowing us to avoid a more dramatic approach in the future,” said Sen. John Sununu, R-N.H.

The agreement heads off a showdown on the “nuclear option,” a precedent-setting bid by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to eliminate the use of filibusters – essentially, talking something to death – to block judicial nominees.