Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) recently announced that she was diagnosed with shingles, prompting Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to propose temporarily replacing her on the Senate Judiciary Committee. It’s a move that could quickly end the gridlock preventing the advancement of judicial nominees, but it’s one that’s been met with growing dissent among Republicans.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) called out the plan, saying, “I will not go along with Chuck Schumer’s plan to replace Senator Feinstein on the Judiciary Committee and pack the court with activist judges.” She went on to say President Joe Biden “wants the Senate to rubber stamp his unqualified and controversial judges to radically transform America.”
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) has also spoken out against the plan, tweeting, “Republicans should not assist Democrats in confirming Joe Biden’s most radical nominees to the courts.”
It’s not hard to see why these Republicans are so opposed to the idea. It’s about more than just Sen. Feinstein’s age – she’s 89 years old – or her recent health issues. It’s about the fact that she’s been absent from Capitol Hill for weeks now, and her absence is hurting the ability of the Judiciary Committee to advance Biden’s nominees to federal courts around the nation.
The fact that Democrats are trying to pull this fast one is a major issue. They’re trying to use Sen. Feinstein’s illness as a way to quickly pass through judges that may not be qualified. It’s a clear violation of the American people’s trust, and Republicans must stay vigilant in ensuring that it doesn’t happen.
Senate Democrats are also attempting to upend precedent and Senate custom by abolishing home-state Senators’ right to object to Biden’s activist liberal judges. We must stand up and protect the Senate’s constitutional role to provide advice and consent on judicial nominees.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) April 17, 2023
Fortunately, the plan to temporarily replace Sen. Feinstein on the Senate Judiciary Committee faces growing dissent among Republicans. The GOP needs to unite against this plan and make sure that Biden’s nominees are properly vetted and qualified. We can’t allow the Democrats to pack the courts with activists – it’s not what the American people want.