Indiana Democratic Senator Throws Support Behind Gorsuch Nomination

Sen. Schumer knows that he has got the votes needed to block Gorsuch, but he doesn’t want to say that publicly just yet. Joe Donnelly of IN and Sen.

The Senate is headed for a tense showdown over President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee that could have far-reaching consequences for Congress, the high court and the nation. She said she was disappointed with many of Gorsuch’s answers at the hearing and felt he wasn’t forthcoming enough. If they cannot do so, McConnell can still force a vote by changing long-standing Senate rules to allow for a simple majority vote, a move that Trump has urged.

Gorsuch, a federal appeals court judge from Colorado, needs at least eight Democrats to support him to reach the 60 votes necessary to stop a Democratic Senate filibuster, known as cloture, against his appointment.

Senate Republicans did not schedule a hearing for Garland, arguing with at best shaky precedent that presidents in their past year in the White House do not get to make supreme court appointments. The GOP has indicated it will change Senate rules if it can not reach the 60-vote threshold and instead require a simple majority of the 100-member chamber.

Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer warned Republicans Friday of changing the rules so that a simple majority is required.

Republicans hold an 11-9 majority on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is considering Gorsuch’s nomination, and control the full Senate by 52-48.

“I am concerned that if Judge Gorsuch is confirmed, our future will be shaped by dark money and expanding government that violates our fundamental freedoms”, Tester said. King, who caucuses with Democrats, said he has not yet decided whether or not he will vote for Gorsuch. “Never happened before in history, in the whole history of the country”.

Interest groups are pouring money into ad campaigns for and against Gorsuch, adding fuel to the growing battle between Democrats, angered by last year’s GOP blockade against President Barack Obama’s nominee Merrick Garland, and Republicans promising to change Senate confirmation rules if Democrats filibuster. But you will find few Republicans who see this as anything more than a closing of Democratic ranks in opposition to a highly qualified conservative nominee for the court. Republicans should not hesitate to use the technique Schumer’s party pioneered. “Let’s sit down and come together”.

McConnell said Sunday that Gorsuch “deserves to be confirmed” and “will ultimately be confirmed”. It appears that Gorsuch does not now have the 60 votes needed to bring debate to an end.

Last week, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito will stand for re-election in 2020.

McConnell said Republicans were justified in not considering a Supreme Court nominee during an election year, despite Democrats’ feeling Garland was mistreated.