What to expect from the Supreme Court nomination of former Justice Antonin Scalia
A key Senate vote to confirm a new Supreme Court justice is on the horizon, and Republican senators are signaling that they are prepared to pass a sweeping confirmation package even if it includes President Trump’s Supreme Court pick.
A key vote on the nomination of Antonin Scavkas Scalia, who has served on the high court for decades, is expected next week.
It could come down to just three votes, which is expected to come down mostly to party lines.
But with the GOP holding 52 seats in the Senate, it’s conceivable that any Republican senator could vote to overturn President Obama’s decision to allow Merrick Garland, Obama’s first choice for the Supreme Justice seat, to stay on the bench.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he would not take any action to confirm Garland unless the Senate votes on a bill that is identical to one offered by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., that would repeal parts of the Affordable Care Act.
The Senate is expected on Tuesday to vote on a repeal bill that would replace parts of ACA, known as Obamacare, with a replacement that would include more funding for states to expand Medicaid.
The Graham-Cassidy bill, which Graham has supported, would have the Senate vote on Graham-Murray, a bill from Sens.
Lindsey McConnell, R.C. and Cory Gardner, R.-Colo., which would allow states to waive or cap Medicaid funding for some people with pre-existing conditions and would also remove federal mandates that people purchase insurance or pay a fine for not buying insurance.
Graham-Scavkas has faced criticism from Democrats and some moderate Republicans who say it would take away health care coverage from millions of Americans.
Republicans are still trying to find a way to repeal ACA in the hopes that the Senate will come together and pass a replacement.
It is unclear if McConnell has the votes to pass such a bill, but it is possible that he could find support from Sen. Rob Portman, R., who has been working on legislation to repeal parts or all of ACA.
McConnell said in an interview with The Associated Press that the senators have already talked about Graham-Portman and other similar legislation.
“We have some ideas that we’re looking at that we think are going to get the votes,” McConnell said.
The two Republicans are expected to announce the final confirmation votes next week for Gorsuch, who would become the first Hispanic justice on the court.
The vote comes after Trump took a hard line against the Affordable Health Care Act on Monday, threatening to strip funding from the law and to cancel the payments that are used to help states expand Medicaid, the public insurance program that covers the poor and disabled.
Trump said he planned to name a replacement for Scalia as soon as he is confirmed, but that he would wait for the Senate to vote to vote in his favor.
He also said he wanted to see Scalia’s replacement confirmed by the end of this year, which could take years, because he wants the court to be focused on other issues, such as the implementation of his Supreme Court nominee’s term.
Republicans have already said they plan to vote against Gorsuch, but McConnell said Tuesday he doesn’t plan to take that position, saying that Democrats are “trying to create a filibuster” to prevent the Senate from confirming Gorsuch.
The White House has said Trump will name a nominee on Friday.
“This is not about political theater.
This is about confirming a great jurist for the country,” Trump said Monday.
Republican senators have been working to find ways to keep the high Court from being controlled by Obama’s appointees, but Trump’s comments and actions have also alienated many conservatives and some liberals.