Asked on Iowa’s “In Depth” whether the current GOP blockade was risky since President Obama’s pick Merrick Garland was more moderate than the type of judge Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders would likely appoint, Grassley reiterated the Republican line that the hardline position is about letting the voters have a voice.
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The senior senator from MI said she is “absolutely” planning to support Garland’s nomination if it is ever brought up for a vote in the Senate. James Lankford and James M. Inhofe of Oklahoma and Mike Rounds of South Dakota, and Sen.
But Senate Republicans have said they will neither give Garland a hearing nor meet with him, invoking the so-called Thurmond rule. There are some critical issues hanging in the balance, such as the President’s Clean Power Plan, and it deserves to be heard by a complete Supreme Court bench.
“For Senator Toomey to criticize Chief Judge Garland and his record without giving Chief Judge Garland the opportunity to answer questions about it, that’s just unfair”, Mr. Earnest said. I am pleased that Hoeven is standing firm in his decision to let “We the people” decide what type of justice is appointed to the Supreme Court by the people’s vote for the next president.
Garland met last week with Peters’ Michigan counterpart, Sen.
President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to fill the open seat, however, Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans have thus far failed to fulfill their constitutional obligation and hold confirmation hearings for Judge Garland.
During Monday night’s debate, Jolly said he could not support Garland because of his stance on the Second Amendment and unions.
The president needled Republicans for having “found time to head home for recess over the next week” even as they refuse to act on the nomination. In September and October, the Supreme Court sets its agenda for its next session.
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Democrats have strongly disagreed, saying that the Senate is abdicating it constitutional responsibilities not to advise or consent on a Supreme Court nominee. In any other year, his nomination would not even be remotely controversial, and the public interest in a fully-functioning Supreme Court demands that it not be controversial this year either.
