The Senate Judiciary Committee opened its four-day confirmation hearing for President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett in what the panel’s chairman predicted would be a 'long contentious week'
WASHINGTON - Democratic senators on Monday painted President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett as a threat to the Obamacare healthcare law and denounced the Republican drive to approve her before the Nov. 3 U.S. election as the Senate Judiciary Committee began her four-day confirmation hearing.
“It’s beyond ironic that this administration, which has failed to respond to this pandemic, is rushing through a judge they believe will vote to strip away health protections,” Democratic Senator Chris Coons said. A key Obamacare provision that would be thrown out if the court strikes it down bars insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing medical conditions. In the hearing room, Democrats displayed pictures of patients who could lose their healthcare if Obamacare is struck down, with senators recounting their individual stories.
“This is probably not about persuading each other, unless something really dramatic happens. All Republicans will vote yes and all Democrats will vote no,” Graham said.Democrats criticized the confirmation process proceeding so close to the election, with Senator Patrick Leahy saying that the integrity of the judiciary is at stake. Leahy condemned the Republican “mad rush” to fill the vacancy.
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