GOP Senators Say Won't Block Democrat Replacement On Senate Judiciary Committee (Congress, legal)

[BugsyPal]

Untimely but not wholly unexpected demise of Diane Feinstein has left democrats in powerful Judiciary Committee without a majority. One would expect Mitch McConnell to pull another stunt similar to SCOTUS appointments and block any democrat nominee until after 2024 elections. Apparently this won't be the case...

"Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, a senior Republican on the Judiciary Committee, told NBC News that “there’s no doubt in my mind” Democrats will be able to fill her spot on the panel once there is a successor appointed to her Senate seat."

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...tee-rcna118151


Can we safely assume John Cornyn has spoken with and for Mitch McConnell?

[bluesjuke]

Republicans should handle it in the way Dems would in their position.

[legalsea]

I was interested to read elsewhere that if the late Senator Feinstein had retired, then Senate rules would have allowed the Republicans to block a replacement on the judiciary committee.



But, since she died in harness, you could say, the rules allow Democrats to replace her.



The Senate has lots of odd rules that have built up over the years.

[hotkarl]

Originally Posted by bluesjuke

Republicans should handle it in the way Dems would in their position.

You mean hold their breath and throw themselves on the floor while claiming a threat to our democracy?

[JenaS62]

Originally Posted by bluesjuke

Republicans should handle it in the way Dems would in their position.

Exactly! But they won't. They still cling to the idea that if they play nice, so will the dems, but we all know that that is not how it works.

[NorthwestResident]

Originally Posted by bluesjuke

Republicans should handle it in the way Dems would in their position.

This is the Senate not the House. They are adults in the Senate. Schumer would allow a vacancy be filled in this same scenario.

Big difference was 8-9 months Feinstein was still living. She was recovering after her last hospital stay. She wanted to temporarily step down and let a replacement on judiciary be named until she returned in order to allow nominations be passed through committee . Republicans said no.

Now she has passed away and her seat been filled and Senate is now again 51-49 so now they can’t realistically block an “open” seat on judiciary to be filled. Since Democrats have the majority they have right to name whoever.

[JAMS14]

Originally Posted by legalsea

I was interested to read elsewhere that if the late Senator Feinstein had retired, then Senate rules would have allowed the Republicans to block a replacement on the judiciary committee.



But, since she died in harness, you could say, the rules allow Democrats to replace her.



The Senate has lots of odd rules that have built up over the years.

So you're saying that Sen. Cornyn is graciously "allowing" the Democrats to do what the rules allow them to do anyway? How big of him.

[MMS02760]

The Republicans are probably only allowing this as they fear what it could mean if one of their elderly senators died. With Feinstein's death, the GOP now has three of the four oldest senators (Grassley/McConnell/Risch).

[mattja]

Originally Posted by JAMS14

So you're saying that Sen. Cornyn is graciously "allowing" the Democrats to do what the rules allow them to do anyway? How big of him.

Is that any worse than Biden promising for years to forgive student debt, knowing full well he lacks the authority to do so?

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by mattja

Is that any worse than Biden promising for years to forgive student debt, knowing full well he lacks the authority to do so?

Or Trump promising that Mexico will pay for the border wall?