Republican-led committee approves Barrett nomination
By Seung Min Kim
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court with solely Republican support Thursday, as Democrats boycotted the vote in protest of what they viewed as an illegitimate confirmation process. The vote was 12-to-zero, with no Democrats present to officially register their objections. The Democratic senators, along with Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), will hold a news conference later Thursday morning.
“That was their choice,” Committee Chairman Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) said. “It will be my choice to vote the nominee out of committee. We’re not going to allow them to take over the committee.” In place of the Democratic senators, aides had placed 10 large portraits of people who benefited from the Affordable Care Act in their seats. Each person was someone that the Democratic senators spoke about at Barrett’s confirmation hearing last week, which senators centered around the issue of health care and the future of Obamacare.
Democrats are sure to accuse Graham of breaking committee rules to hold the vote, since the panel generally requires two members of the minority to be present to conduct committee business.
But Republican aides said if a majority of the entire committee is present – which, on Thursday, they were – that means the Judiciary Committee can go ahead, under longstanding precedents. There have been more than a half dozen instances, including under Democratic control, since 2006 when the committee has conducted business without two members of the minority being there.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/10/22/amy-coney-barrett-nomination-vote-live-updates/#link-AOVU4RLDCBHV3FRYL6A7QS5KHY
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