[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 164 (Tuesday, September 22, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H4652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONSIDERING JUSTICE GINSBURG'S REPLACEMENT BEFORE THE ELECTION
(Mr. BUTTERFIELD asked and was given permission to address the House
for 1 minute.)
Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, on Friday night, a great American,
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, passed from labor to reward. Moments after
her passing, the Senate Republican Leader announced that Republicans
will confirm any name that President Trump will send over, whether it
is before or after the election.
It was in February of 2016, 9 months before the election, that
Justice Scalia unexpectedly passed away, and Senate Republicans
announced they would wait until the election of the new President to
consider the replacement. Because of this obstruction, President Obama
was denied an opportunity to replace Justice Scalia. Republicans then
took control and packed the Court with the confirmation of Justice
Gorsuch.
And now this is 2016 in reverse. The Senate Republican Leader and
Lindsey Graham are determined to confirm a replacement before the
election. This is the height of hypocrisy. It places the integrity of
our judiciary in a place where it should not be. We will not tolerate a
second court packing. Do it at your peril.
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