Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) released a statement Saturday night following the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia that contained a warning shot to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): Don’t play politics with filling vacancies on the Supreme Court bench.
“It would be unprecedented in recent history for the Supreme Court to go a
year with a vacant seat,” the statement read. “Failing to fill this vacancy would be a shameful abdication of one of the Senate’s most essential Constitutional
responsibilities.”
Read the full statement below:
“There is no doubt Justice Antonin Scalia was a brilliant man. We had our differences and I disagreed with many of his opinions, but he was a dedicated jurist and public servant. I offer my condolences to his family.”
“The President can and should send the Senate a nominee right away. With so many important issues pending before the Supreme Court, the Senate has a responsibility to fill vacancies as soon as possible. It would be unprecedented in recent history for the Supreme Court to go a year with a vacant seat. Failing to fill this vacancy would be a shameful abdication of one of the Senate’s most essential Constitutional responsibilities.”
Republicans will lose whatever they do.
This from Kevin Drum of Mother Jones:
“The court is split 4-4 between conservatives and liberals. So even if Republicans refuse to confirm a new justice, Obama’s laws and executive orders are safe for another year in any case for which the opinion hasn’t yet been finalized. You can’t overturn an action on a 4-4 vote. This means that EPA’s carbon rules are probably safe. Ditto for Obama’s immigration executive order. Union shops in the public sector are probably safe. Abortion restrictions probably won’t go anywhere. One-person-one-vote is probably safe.”
Sorry Harry, but shameful and Republicans go together like stench and raw sewage
This may be just what the Dems need to lock the election. It will surely boost voter turnout.
Well, wherever he is now, I’d bet Antonin Scalia is one pissed-off energy.
Of course they’ll try to block Obama’s nomination, because he’ll be presidenting while black. Again.
The good news? it will guarantee us the senate this fall.