bearkat42
Well-Known Member
Key Republican senators on the Judiciary Committee emerged from a closed door meeting in Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's office Tuesday united in their determination not to consider any nominee to replace Antonin Scalia until the next president takes office.
Tuesday was the first full day the Senate was back in session since Scalia's death Feb. 13.
"We believe the American people need to decide who is going to make this appointment rather than a lame duck president," said Majority Whip John Cornyn.
When asked if they would start the process after the new president took office or if they would consider doing it in the lame duck session, Cornyn replied "No, after the next president is selected. That way the American people have a voice in the process."
Sen. Lindsey Graham said that "there's no use starting a process that's not going to go anywhere and we are going to let the next president decide," when asked why there would be no hearings.
When TPM asked if he had political concerns about the decision not to move forward with a nominee, Graham responded."I have zero concerns politically."
"I think this is what they would do," Graham said referring to Senate Democrats. "For them to say they wouldn't do this is a lie."
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) demurred saying that Republicans were "still talking."
The meeting in McConnell's office came not long after he made a speech on the Senate floorvowing to block any Obama nominee.
"Presidents have a right to nominate just as the Senate has its constitutional right to provide or withhold consent. In this case, the Senate will withhold it," McConnell said. "The Senate will appropriately revisit the matter after the American people finish making in November the decision they've already started making today."
Tuesday was the first full day the Senate was back in session since Scalia's death Feb. 13.
"We believe the American people need to decide who is going to make this appointment rather than a lame duck president," said Majority Whip John Cornyn.
When asked if they would start the process after the new president took office or if they would consider doing it in the lame duck session, Cornyn replied "No, after the next president is selected. That way the American people have a voice in the process."
Sen. Lindsey Graham said that "there's no use starting a process that's not going to go anywhere and we are going to let the next president decide," when asked why there would be no hearings.
When TPM asked if he had political concerns about the decision not to move forward with a nominee, Graham responded."I have zero concerns politically."
"I think this is what they would do," Graham said referring to Senate Democrats. "For them to say they wouldn't do this is a lie."
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) demurred saying that Republicans were "still talking."
The meeting in McConnell's office came not long after he made a speech on the Senate floorvowing to block any Obama nominee.
"Presidents have a right to nominate just as the Senate has its constitutional right to provide or withhold consent. In this case, the Senate will withhold it," McConnell said. "The Senate will appropriately revisit the matter after the American people finish making in November the decision they've already started making today."
