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McConnell locks down key GOP votes in Supreme Court fight
The Hill ^ | 09/20/20 07:07 PM EDT | JORDAIN CARNEY

Posted on 09/20/2020 4:25:52 PM PDT by robowombat

McConnell locks down key GOP votes in Supreme Court fight BY JORDAIN CARNEY - 09/20/20 07:07 PM EDT 206

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McConnell locks down key GOP votes in Supreme Court fight © Greg Nash Alexander backs vote on Trump Supreme Court nominee: What Democrats 'would do if the shoe were on the other foot' Volume 90%

Republican senators are coalescing behind Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) vow to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

A number of GOP senators, including both retiring members and vulnerable incumbents, are backing McConnell's promise to hold a vote on whomever President Trump nominates, underscoring Republicans' desire to fill the seat even as they face charges of hypocrisy from Democrats and pushback from some of their own colleagues.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), who is retiring at the end of the year, said on Sunday that he would support filling the seat this year, though he'll make a decision on the nominee once Trump names his pick.

"No one should be surprised that a Republican Senate majority would vote on a Republican President’s Supreme Court nomination, even during a presidential election year. ...Senator McConnell is only doing what Democrat leaders have said they would do if the shoe were on the other foot," Alexander said in a statement.

Alexander's decision follows similar remarks from Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who both indicated they would support McConnell if he moves to hold a vote on confirming a third Supreme Court pick for Trump. Neither is up for re-election this year.

Portman, in a statement, noted that McConnell intended to hold a vote and "I intend to fulfill my role as a U.S. Senator and judge that nominee based on his or her merits." Blunt, a member of GOP leadership, added to CBS' Face the Nation that there was "plenty of time" for Republican to confirm a nominee this year.

"The White House and the Senate have some obligation to do what they think in the majority in the Senate is the right thing to do. And there is a Senate majority put there by voters for reasons like this," he said.

The decision by Portman, Blunt and Alexander to align with McConnell and Trump highlights the narrowing pool of GOP senators that Democrats could flip in order to block Republicans from filling the seat in the middle of an election year.

Republicans still face a decision on whether they should try to squeeze in the nomination before the election day or in the end-of-year lame duck, something that is likely to be discussed at a leadership meeting on Monday night and a caucus lunch on Tuesday.

“I’m for whatever gives us the best opportunity to confirm a conservative to the court while giving us the best chance of keeping the Senate and White House,” Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) told The Hill on Saturday "[But] I suspect we will have a long discussion about it Tuesday."

So far two GOP senators — Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), the only GOP senator to oppose Brett Kavanaugh's nomination, and Susan Collins (R-Maine), who is facing a tough re-election bid — have said that they do not believe the Senate should take up the Supreme Court nomination before the Nov. 3 election, which is 44 days away.

"I did not support taking up a nomination eight months before the 2016 election to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Justice Scalia. We are now even closer to the 2020 election - less than two months out - and I believe the same standard must apply," Murkowski said on Sunday.

Collins, in a statement on Saturday, said the appointment "should be made by the President who is elected on November 3rd."

But Democrats will need at least two more GOP senators to oppose moving a Supreme Court nominee before the election to give them a fighting chance of keeping the seat open until next year.

Alexander and Portman, in particular, were considered potential votes to watch. Alexander, though an ally of McConnell's, is considered an institutionalist and is retiring, freeing him from the guaranteed political blowback that would come from Trump and his supporters for wanting to delay a Supreme Court vote. Portman, meanwhile, has had breaks with Trump over high-profile issues including the emergency declaration for the border wall.

Their decisions don't close the door for Democrats altogether, but they underscore the uphill battle Democrats are likely face.

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), the party's 2012 presidential nominee, is considered another lawmaker to watch. He is one of the president's most vocal critics within the caucus and viewed as a potential swing vote. He was the only GOP senator to vote for one of the articles of impeachment earlier this year.

But even if Romney comes out in support of not holding a vote before the election, Democrats would still need to pick up one additional GOP senator to prevent a 50-50 tie that Vice President Mike Pence would be all but guaranteed to break.

In addition to Romney, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) are both considered votes to watch.

Grassley, a current member and the former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said earlier this year that “in the abstract, I would do the same thing in 2020 that I would in 2016" if a Supreme Court vacancy occurred this year. His statement released in the wake of Ginsburg's death did not address what the Senate should do if Trump nominates someone to fill Ginsburg's seat.

Gardner also did not address what the Senate should do. He declined to say, when questioned while speaking before a business group on Saturday, if he stood by his 2016 comments that whoever won the 2016 election should appoint the successor to the late Justice Antonin Scalia's seat.

Gardner's sidestepping comes as several other vulnerable GOP incumbents have endorsed holding a vote this year, further reducing the pool of swing votes for Democrats.

Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), who is running for a second term, said on Sunday that the Senate should act on the nomination, painting the Supreme Court battle as a central difference between himself and Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff.

"Once the President announces a nomination, the United States Senate should begin the process that moves this to a full Senate vote," Perdue said.

Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), who is running against Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock, added in his own statement that the Senate "should move forward with confirming President Trump's nominee."

Perdue and Daines join GOP Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who are each on the ballot in November and have called for the Senate to act on Trump's forthcoming nomination.

Murkowski: Supreme Court nominee should not be taken up before... Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight Graham, in a tweet linking to his campaign fundraising page, said he was "dead set" on confirming whoever Trump picks.

"I will support President @realDonaldTrump in any effort to move forward regarding the recent vacancy created by the passing of Justice Ginsburg," he added in a separate tweet.

Scott Wong contributed to this report.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: neverwhomever; notwhomever; nowhomeverever; whoevernotwhomever
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To: robowombat

I don’t care. Mitch, give Alaska or Maine whatever the Hell pork or infrastructure projects they want to get these two POS RINOs on board. If you gotta spend $1 trillion to study the mating habits of Sockeye Salmon, then do it.


21 posted on 09/20/2020 4:58:11 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Trust the plan of the 17th letter of the English alphabet!)
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To: AFB-XYZ

49 > 47

Why is Pence required?


22 posted on 09/20/2020 4:58:37 PM PDT by gasport (Vote Democrat . . . Win stupid stuff)
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To: Bobalu

LOL! Oh the wailing and gnashing of teeth would almost be too much to watch.


23 posted on 09/20/2020 5:00:20 PM PDT by Obadiah
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To: gbscott

The House can prevent the Senate from going into recess.


24 posted on 09/20/2020 5:05:30 PM PDT by cotton1706
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To: PGalt

We should roll up portable flag poles with SCOTUS underwear placed at half staff, and so not to be dishonorable, have the red “hammer and sickle” flown below the underwear.


25 posted on 09/20/2020 5:07:05 PM PDT by patriotfury ((May the fleas of a thousand camels occupy mo' ham mads tents!))
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To: Hieronymus
Every senator will fall in line.
26 posted on 09/20/2020 5:10:59 PM PDT by TornadoAlley3 ( I'm Proud To Be An Okie From Muskogee)
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To: Salvavida

After a fraudulent impeachment, revenge is a dish best served COLD. Ice cold in fact.

Well said!


27 posted on 09/20/2020 5:15:09 PM PDT by Tommy Revolts
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
Mitch, give Alaska or Maine whatever the Hell pork or infrastructure projects they want

Why Maine? Collins is on the hot seat and is going to be defeated.

28 posted on 09/20/2020 5:17:31 PM PDT by Tommy Revolts
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To: AFB-XYZ
And Pence would make it 50-47, yes?

Actually, no. Pence only gets to vote if there is a tie.

If there are two abstentions and two Rs vote with the Ds, it will be 49-47 and the nominee is confirmed without Pence.

29 posted on 09/20/2020 5:22:45 PM PDT by CurlyDave
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To: robowombat

Mitch going to war!


30 posted on 09/20/2020 5:23:01 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration
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To: GaryCrow

He knows he has the votes or he wouldn’t be putting it out there — IMHO.


31 posted on 09/20/2020 5:25:53 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam (Disappointment is inevitable. Discouragement is a choice.)
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To: robowombat

With Bad Girl Ginsberg health Trump and Mitch had to be talking about
this some time ago. And developing their plan for this very moment.


32 posted on 09/20/2020 5:26:17 PM PDT by tennmountainman (The Liberals Are Baby Killers)
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To: CurlyDave

I did the math wrong there.

Two abstentions and two Rs voting against makes it 49-49 and Pence casts the deciding vote for confirmation.


33 posted on 09/20/2020 5:26:20 PM PDT by CurlyDave
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To: Tommy Revolts
Why Maine? Collins is on the hot seat and is going to be defeated.

Not if she marches in lockstep. Trust me, she's going to come around. She has nothing to lose and the Left will never support her no matter what. If she votes no or demands that the vote be delayed, she will get slaughtered at the polls.

34 posted on 09/20/2020 5:28:43 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Trust the plan of the 17th letter of the English alphabet!)
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To: TexasGator

You must be joking.
2 GOP Senators who do not vote on this historic nomination?
One that will change the SC for generations.
Something conservatives has dreamed about for decades.

And you think 2 GOP Senators will not vote?
Can’t wait to see how that works out for them.


35 posted on 09/20/2020 5:31:45 PM PDT by tennmountainman (The Liberals Are Baby Killers)
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To: gbscott

Can President Trump make a “recess appointment” to the Supreme Court if the Senate adjourns for the election?
...........................
President Eisenhower did. Probably someone already posted that response.


36 posted on 09/20/2020 5:37:14 PM PDT by fortes fortuna juvat (Read the "color revolution" election analysis of Darren Beattie (frightening!).)
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To: AFB-XYZ

And Pence would make it 50-47, yes?
..................................
Pence votes only to break a tie!


37 posted on 09/20/2020 5:40:23 PM PDT by fortes fortuna juvat (Read the "color revolution" election analysis of Darren Beattie (frightening!).)
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To: patriotfury

I live near the Canadian border in Idaho. There is a small town southwest of me that has a grocery store with the Flag at half mast. A certain goober mint building nearby apparently didn’t get the word as it was flying beautifully at the top. It made my day. Buzzy wasn’t a Patriot, she was a political hack who ignored the Constitution and voted by her personal political preferences.


38 posted on 09/20/2020 5:45:18 PM PDT by davidb56
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To: fortes fortuna juvat

House also has to agree with the Senate going into recess. Nancy won’t let that happen.


39 posted on 09/20/2020 5:46:39 PM PDT by damper99
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

“ Not if she marches in lockstep. Trust me, she’s going to come around.“

What does Collins really, really need? Money. And soon. Where does she get that money from?

The RNC.


40 posted on 09/20/2020 5:48:56 PM PDT by jdsteel (Americans are Dreamers too!!!)
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