Posted on 09/18/2020 8:20:19 PM PDT by lightman
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death leaves a vacancy on the nations highest court, and Sen. Bob Casey Jr. wants the Senate to wait until after the election to vote on her replacement.
Casey, D-Pa., called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to follow the precedent he set four years ago. In 2016, McConnell and Senate Republicans refused a vote on President Barack Obamas Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland.
Consistent with the precedent set by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in 2016, Justice Ginsburgs seat should not be filled until the presidential election concludes and the candidate chosen by voters is sworn into office," Casey said in a statement late Friday night.
Ginsburg died Friday night at the age of 87. Hours after her death was announced, McConnell said the Senate will indeed vote on a nominee put forward by President Donald Trump.
Obama named Garland as his nominee following the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a powerful conservative figure on the court. McConnell said in 2016, the Republican Senate was working with a Democratic president in the final year of his administration. Now, a Republican Senate works with a Republican president.
President Trumps nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate, McConnell said in a statement issued Friday night.
Now, the timing is different related to the election. Obama submitted Garlands nomination in March 2016, eight months before the election. This year, a vacancy on the Supreme Court has emerged less than seven weeks until the presidential election.
If Trump submits a nominee, U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., looms as a critical vote.
In 2016, Toomey said the Senate shouldnt vote on Garlands nomination. He said at the time, the vote on Garland could change the ideological balance of the Supreme Court. Months before the election, Toomey said in an opinion piece Americans should decide on the next president first.
"First, the balance of the Supreme Court is at stake, and we have an election right around the corner. With lifetime tenure, the next justice will determine the Courts balance for a generation.
In that light, I believe it is sensible to allow the American people to participate in the choice of Justice Scalias successor less than seven months from now.
Toomey also said he was troubled by aspects of Garlands record, consistently backing federal environmental regulations in court challenges.
An attempt to reach Toomeys office for a statement late Friday night was not immediately successful.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said the Senate shouldnt act on a nominee until after the election.
Tonight, and in the coming days, we should be focused on the loss of Justice Ginsburg and her enduring legacy," Biden said in a statement. But just so there is no doubt, let me be clear: The voters should pick a President, and that President should select a successor to Justice Ginsburg."
This was the position that the Republican Senate took in 2016, when there were nearly nine months before the election," Biden said. "That is the position the United States Senate must take now, when the election is less than two months away. We are talking about the Constitution and the Supreme Court. That institution should not be subject to politics.
Casey should shut the ...
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One of my favorite alternate history scenarios is “what if the PA Legislature hadn’t voted itself a pay raise in 2006 and Rick Santorum would have been re-elected to the U.S. Senate?”
not a chance, Casey person. not a chance
Isn’t Casey one of those fake “conservative” moderate Rats?
The youngerr Casey was never as smart as his father.
Nah.
The younger Casey is a disgrace to the family name.
Don’t you love it when Democrats, especially irrelevant ones, weigh in on something that isn’t any of their damn business?
First of all, Garland was not a precedent, and this situation is not analogous. Shut up, Casey before even your constituents figure out how dumb you are.
........”Senate should wait until after election”......
Every Dem-rat will be singing that tune....that script was handed out several weeks ago..they all knew she was dying.
Casey rode in onb his fathers coattail....but yes he’s a rat!
Thank God, Senator McConnell is going to have the Senate vote on PDJT’s nominee!
Alyssa Milano is moving to Canada.
Breyer is 82 and should seriously consider retiring now to spend more time with his family.
Casey, D-Pa., called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to follow the precedent he set four years ago. In 2016, McConnell and Senate Republicans refused a vote on President Barack Obamas Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland.
And by the way, if Cocaine Mitch wanted to go against a real “precedent”, it’s his right to do so as Majority Leader.
Casey is a whiney sore loser @ss, just like Plugs Biden.
“Elections have consequences,” that’s what Bath House Barry said!!!
After how Trump has been treated he should do whatever he wants.
Never give a sucker an even break.
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