A moderate Republican senator heaped praise on Tuesday on President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, bucking Senate Republican leaders in calling for confirmation hearings but saying she was not optimistic enough others in her party would agree.
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Garland returns to Capitol Hill Tuesday to continue his courtesy calls with senators, including GOP Sens.
As candidate for President Obama’s third appointee to the Supreme Court throughout his tenure, the president chose the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge Merrick Garland.
Earlier Monday, before Boozman’s staff announced there would no press coverage of the meeting, the group Freedom Works issued a statement arguing Boozman’s meeting with Garland could send the wrong signal that the senator might be open to eventually confirming the judge. “Every day, voters grow more frustrated with Republican obstruction and more terrified with the prospect of Donald Trump picking the next Supreme Court justice”, he said on a conference call hosted by the Constitution Responsibility Project. “I strongly believe that the American people should have a say in filling this vacancy and therefore the next President should nominate the Justice to succeed Justice Scalia”, the email said.
Collins, one of two Republican senators who supports a hearing for Garland, suggested that Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) might be swayed after he breaks bread with the judge (E&E Daily, April 5).
During Garland’s visit with Minnesota Sen.
At those offices, 50 journalists jammed the doorways, rushing inside to take pictures of the arrival.
Democratic senators took turns Tuesday railing against the GOP stance, accusing Republicans of failing to complete their constitutional duties because of pressure from conservative groups and the billionaire donor Koch brothers. Had the rest of the court sided with Garland and Tatel, D.C. vs. Heller, one of Scalia’s most notable achievements in protecting the Second Amendment on the high court, may never have come to fruition.
In the end, Republicans may regret not approving the centrist judge Garland.
Mr Gunnlaugsson, who is refusing to resign, insists their innocence and says they have paid all their taxes.
Garland has several more meetings this week, all with Democrats. “But again, and with respect, I think he is concerned with the wrong problem”, Grassley said. “He gave very thorough, impressive responses to all of my questions”.
“I think the cameras specifically were quite overwhelming”, Sen. “What they’re doing is playing right into the hands of the White House”.
“He has a humility about him”, Collins said immediately after the meeting.
“What we’re seeing from Sen”. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. “Some good ideas have been brought up, but no decisions have been made”, the Illinois Democrat told reporters after meeting with Garland in his Senate office.
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An Obama administration official said meetings with other lawmakers are still being arranged.
