Despite Meeting, Toomey Stands By Decision To Ignore Supreme Court Nomination
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey defended his party's decision to not hold confirmation hearings on President Obama's nominee to replace Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court.
Toomey, during an interview with Dom Giordano on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, said he will meet with Merrick Garland, but only to explain the Senate Republican's stance on not taking up his confirmation.
"The White House asked me to have the meeting. The judge has asked for the meeting. Just out of respect for the President and the judge, I've agreed to have a meeting and I've made it clear to them and publicly that I will take the occasion of the meeting to explain to Judge Garland why I think the American people should have the most say in this election and the next President should, therefore, make the pick."
The Senator also addressed the need of Pennsylvania to do more to address opioid addiction, calling it one of the leading drivers of crime.
"We had a lot of input from law enforcement folks who were stressing what a terrible situation that they have to confront where so much of the crime that they're dealing with, day in and day out, is, ultimately, drug related. It's addicts who are committing crimes to get the money to buy their drugs, it's the drug dealers, themselves."
