Considering Justice Ginsburg's Replacement Before the Election

Floor Speech

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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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