Republicans set quick vote on Barrett
Judiciary Committee’s action planned Oct. 22
WASHINGTON — Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee pushed past Democratic objections Thursday and cleared the way for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett to receive a confirmation vote before the presidential election.
Chairman Lindsey Graham,
R-S.C., set an Oct. 22 vote in the committee to forward its full report on President Donald Trump’s nominee to the full Senate for consideration.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell, R-KY., said debate on the nomination would begin the day following the committee’s issuance of a report, and that a full confirmation vote would follow.
The fast-paced procedure prompted Democrats, who lack the votes to delay or block the nomination, to call foul on their GOP colleagues.
“You don’t convene a Supreme Court confirmation hearing, in the middle of a pandemic, when the Senate’s on recess and voting has already started in the presidential election,” said Sen. Chris Coons, D-del.
Delays unsuccessful
The Democrats’ efforts to delay the hearing with parliamentary procedures were unsuccessful, and a resolution by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-conn., to indefinitely postpone committee action on the nomination failed along party lines.
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., pleaded with his GOP colleagues to use “restraint of authority” and halt the confirmation process until after the presidential election.
It was an argument that prompted smiles from Republicans listening to Booker’s request.
“Just because you can” should not be the guiding force for Republicans to confirm a high court nomination just days before the election, said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., who argued that Senate norms have eroded and that they need to be restored.
“I made it pretty clear that what I thought what happened to Justice (Brett) Kavanaugh changed every rule, every norm,” Graham shot back.
But Graham praised Democrats and Republicans on the committee for conducting a professional hearing with Barrett that he said would reset the tone after the acrimonious and combative confirmation battles of the past.
Trump nominated Barrett to fill the seat held by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The GOP holds a 53-47 majority in the Senate and 51 lawmakers have indicated they they would support the nomination in a vote before the election.
Confirmation of Barrett to the Supreme Court would solidify a solid conservative majority on the court.
Barrett said during her confirmation hearing that she never spoke to the president about any cases that could come before the court. She said she had no agenda in regards to the ACA, commonly referred to as Obamacare.
That law is being challenged in a case that will come before the court Nov. 10.
Barrett also declined to answer specific questions about reproductive rights.
But Graham called it an historic milestone that an “unashamedly pro-life” candidate would be confirmed and seated on the court.