GOP does not support Feinstein replacement on panels
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that Republicans will not allow Democrats to temporarily replace California senators. Diane Feinstein On the Senate Judiciary Committee, they argued that they only wanted a stand-in to push past the most partisan judge.
McConnell put a substitute At the panel where Feinstein recovers from the case of Herpes zoster An unprecedented “extremely unusual” request.
“Let’s be clear,” McConnell said in a statement on the Senate floor. “No Republican member of the Senate will participate in removing a temporarily absent colleague from a committee for the Democrats to push their worst candidate through.”
Feinstein, 89, has been absent from the Senate since February. headache For Democrats hoping to use the majority to confirm as many of President Joe Biden’s judicial candidates as possible. Amidst some calls for her to resign, a California senator issued a statement last week calling for a temporary replacement on the Judiciary Committee instead. It’s necessary, and McConnell has made it clear that it won’t happen.
Feinstein’s absence is important for Democrats. Because they have a majority of one seat on the committee.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) said he would go to the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon to seek unanimous consent to appoint a temporary substitute. But that will likely be blocked, and it’s unclear if the Democrats will take the roll call knowing it will be overruled.
Schumer said Feinstein would be replaced by Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, a Maryland attorney who is in his third term in the U.S. Senate. Schumer did not respond to questions about whether Feinstein should consider her resignation, but she has spoken with Feinstein and said, “She and I will be back soon.” I am very much looking forward to coming,” he said.
McConnell’s comments came after several Republican senators Said On Monday they said they wouldn’t support the Democrats’ plan — because they don’t want to help Democrats confirm liberal judges and that senators should try to push their own judges out. I don’t think so.
Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Chuck Grassley of Iowa said they believe Democrats are putting unfair pressure on Feinstein.
Collins believes she and Feinstein were good friends and that there was a “systematic campaign” to get her off the judiciary committee. Told.
Feinstein is under increasing pressure to resign or resign from office. Although she has defended her own effectiveness, in recent years she has faced questions about her cognitive health and memory and has appeared increasingly frail.
In 2020, she said she would not head the Democratic Party At the judiciary committee after criticism from liberals about her handling Confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Earlier this year, she said she did not intend to serve as interim president of the Senate or the majority party’s top senator, but she will not. The interim president opens the Senate daily and performs other ceremonial duties.
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, who is the same age as Feinstein and a longtime member of the committee, rejected Feinstein’s chance to chair the committee, saying “because she’s old.” ‘ accused Democrats of trying to get her out of office.
“I would not take credit for such dehumanizing treatment,” Grassley said.
If Feinstein resigns soon, the process will be much easier for Democrats, as California Gov. Gavin Newsom will appoint his replacement. The Senate regularly approves committee assignments for new senators after their predecessors have resigned or died. But temporary replacement due to illness is a rare, if not unheard of, request.
Some Democrats are calling for her full resignation. Her statement calling for a temporary replacement came shortly after Democratic Rep. Abortion rights, a key Democratic priority, said it was “unacceptable” to miss out on a vote to confirm an official.
Democratic Rep. Pete Aguilar, another member of the California delegation, said Tuesday that Feinstein is “a legend in California politics and a legend in the Senate” as Congress tries to find ways to lift the debt. , said her vote would be needed… Ceiling this year.
“Our expectation as House Democrats is that all Senators should participate.
Asked whether Feinstein should resign, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin said Monday: “I’m not pushing Feinstein to make any other decision.” Durbin had previously expressed frustration about the stalled candidates on his committee.
Durbin appealed to his Republican colleagues to “show your colleagues a little kindness and compassion.”
If the Senate votes to replace her on the panel, “I think we can address this issue. Do it very quickly,” Durbin said. I hope we can find 10 members.”
https://www.ksby.com/news/california-news/mcconnell-gop-will-not-support-replacing-feinstein-on-panel GOP does not support Feinstein replacement on panels