Senior U of AlaskaS Senator Lisa Murkowski said on Saturday she would vote to confirm Amy Coney Barrett, providing crucial support for President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court candidate before the Tory Judge face a final vote expected on Monday
The Republican had been a rare obstacle for Barrett, decrying that his nomination came so close to a presidential election Even though Barrett appears to have support for the confirmation of Senate Republicans who hold a majority in the chamber, the Murkowski’s vote now gives additional support to Trump’s candidate Only one Republican, Sen Susan Collins of Maine, is now expected to vote against the conservative judge
Senators are expected to move forward on Sunday, despite Democratic objections that the winner of the 3 should choose to fill the seat of the late judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg
“While I oppose the process that got us to this point, I don’t blame her as an individual who took the challenge with grace, skill and humility,” she said.
She said that while she would vote to confirm Barrett, she would still oppose the procedural steps to move Barrett’s nomination forward
[Murkowski’s backing gives Barrett an extra boost as Senate GOP advances on Supreme Court nomination]
The expedited confirmation process is unlike any other in US history so close to a presidential election, and Democrats have mounted procedural hurdles to slow it down But the minority party has no realistic chance of stopping confirmation from Barrett, who is expected to lock in a Tory 6-3 court majority for years to come
Just hours before Ginsburg’s death, Murkowski told a public radio reporter that she would not vote to confirm a Supreme Court judge ahead of the 2020 election Murkowski referred to the remarks when of her speech on Saturday, noting that in 2016, after the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, she said the Senate should not « pick a candidate to take this seat due to the impending presidential election »
« I had no idea that (Judge Ginsburg) was deceased when I reaffirmed my previous comments, but that knowledge would not have changed my mind » Murkowski said on Saturday « I’m staying in the same place today «
The Senator said she did not believe that going ahead with a candidate when partisan tensions are high « will help our country to become a better version of itself »
Today I released the following statement on the appointment of Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the post of Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court (https: // bitly / 31BVa2M):
People opposed to Barrett’s appointment have expressed concern over her opinion on abortion rights and whether she would vote to overturn Roe v Wade, with the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling claiming that the constitutional right to privacy includes a woman’s right to have an abortion
Murkowski, who has always supported women’s access to abortion rights and reproductive health, said on Saturday she had signed up with Barrett for a « long one-on-one » over several questions, including the weight the judge has long given decisions like Roe vs Wade
« I don’t think Judge Barrett will sit on the bench with a predetermined agenda, » she said
Other Republican Senator from Alaska, Dan Sullivan, said earlier this week that he would support Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court, calling her an « outstanding jurist »
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell R-Ky on Saturday noted the political resentment over Barrett’s appointment but defended his handling of the process
« Our recent debates have been heated, but oddly enough, discussions of Judge Barrett’s actual credentials or qualifications are hardly presented, » McConnell said He called her one of the most ‘impressive’ nominees. in public office « for a generation »
Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York City warned Republicans that the only way to remove the ‘stain’ from their action would be to ‘withdraw the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett until the end of the election »
Barrett, 48, appeared in public testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee as a neutral arbiter on abortion cases, affordable care law and presidential power – issues soon to be faced by the court At one point, she suggested: « It’s not Amy’s law »
But Barrett’s past writings against abortion and an Obama-era health care law ruling show a deeply conservative thinker
Trump said this week that he hopes the Supreme Court will overturn the health care law when judges face a challenge Nov ten
At the start of Trump’s presidency, McConnell crafted a change in Senate rules to allow confirmation by a majority of 100 senators, rather than the 60-vote threshold traditionally required to advance High Court candidates despite objections With a majority of 53-47 GOP, Barrett’s confirmation is almost certain
Daily News reporter Morgan Krakow contributed Associated Press material was used in this report
Lisa Murkowski
World news – US – Sen Murkowski says she will back Trump’s candidate Amy Coney Barrett for Supreme Court
