Pa. Senators Bob Casey And Pat Toomey Respond To Supreme Court Nomination
By: KDKA-TV News Staff
HARRISBURG (KDKA) - President Donald Trump has nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett as his pick to replace the seat vacated by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
President Trump made the nomination official on Saturday afternoon from the Rose Garden.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said that the Senate will vote on Judge Barrett's nomination ahead of the November election.
Both Pennsylvania senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey released statements on the nomination and decision to hold a vote on a Supreme Court nominee less than 100 days before the general election.
Their statements can be read in full below.
Senator Pat Toomey
"I am pleased that President Trump has nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Given Judge Barrett's intellect, strong legal credentials, and impeccable character, I was proud to support her confirmation to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017. These same attributes will serve her well on the nation's highest court. As a working mother with young children, Judge Barrett would also bring to the Supreme Court a background that will add to its diversity.
Importantly, Judge Barrett has shown an unfailing commitment to the proper role of a judge – which is to apply the law, including the U.S. Constitution, as written, and not to decide cases based on a preferred policy or outcome. I look forward to reviewing Judge Barrett's record further in the coming weeks and speaking with her soon as I consider her nomination."
Senator Bob Casey
"It's been only a week since we lost Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, yet President Trump and Senator McConnell are rushing to confirm a Supreme Court Justice who will back their lawsuit to destroy the Affordable Care Act, kicking 23 million people off their health insurance, ending protections for 135 million people with pre-existing conditions and raising costs for millions more, in the middle of a pandemic. Voters across the country are already casting their ballots in this presidential election, and the right thing to do for our country is to allow the winner to nominate a successor to Justice Ginsburg.
Since President Trump has pledged to only nominate candidates from a list approved by two far-right organizations, the Federalist Society and the Heritage Foundation, it's unsurprising that he has nominated an individual with an extreme judicial philosophy. If confirmed, Judge Amy Coney Barrett will almost certainly vote to overturn the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which will adversely impact working families, children, and seniors. I cannot support a Supreme Court nominee who would rip health care away from tens of millions, undermine the rights of workers, and do the bidding of large corporations.
Instead of focusing on tackling the virus and helping millions get back to work, Donald Trump is trying to rush an appointment onto the Supreme Court to ensure that the nominee is the deciding vote to take away protections for 5.5 million Pennsylvanians with pre-existing conditions. President Trump is more concerned with his own election than protecting Americans from the deadly virus or creating millions of good-paying jobs for the almost 750,000 out of work in our Commonwealth."
