Senate Democrats are doubling down on their opposition to President Donald Trump’s push to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court before the Nov. 3 election.
“No, because I believe first, that the whole process has been illegitimate,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said when asked by a reporter if he would meet with Trump’s nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, ahead of her confirmation hearings.
He added, “And second, because she’s already stated that she is for overturning the (Affordable Care Act). I will not meet with her.”
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On Saturday, Trump announced that he would nominate Barrett to Supreme Court to fill the vacancy that opened up in the wake of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, as IJR reported.
Barrett is expected to begin meeting with individual senators on Tuesday, and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he plans to start holding hearings on Oct. 12.
The first day will feature opening statements followed by three or four days of questions and testimony.
While Graham noted that the process will be expedited, he added, “My hope is to be able to do it in a fashion that we cannot deviate from the norms too much.”
While Trump has predicted that Barrett’s confirmation process would “go fast,” Congressional Democrats have called for the Senate to wait until after the election to confirm a nominee to the Supreme Court.
Several lawmakers have cited Senate Republicans’ decision to hold up former President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee in 2016. They have also argued that it set a new principle for addressing vacancies on the court in an election year.
However, Republicans have argued that principle no longer applies as Republicans control the White House and the Senate as opposed to 2016.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said, “The United States Constitution was designed to give the voters one chance to have their voice heard on who serves on the court. That moment is now, and their voice should be heard.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) echoed Schumer’s concern that Barrett would side with the Supreme Court’s conservatives and struck down the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The court is slated to hear oral arguments in a challenge to the ACA in November.
“This nomination threatens the destruction of life-saving protections for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions together with every other benefit and protection of the Affordable Care Act,” Pelosi said.
