Tina Smith: “I rise today to tell the people of Minnesota why I will oppose the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be an…”

“I rise today to tell the people of Minnesota why I will oppose the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Our Constitution's most fundamental charge is to render equal justice under the law. This promise is so central to our justice system that those words are inscribed above the entrance to the U.S. Supreme Court. The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg devoted her life to advancing the principle of equality under the law, and I believe all nominees to our Nation's highest Court must share that dedication. Unfortunately, Judge Barrett does not meet that standard. Judge Barrett was nominated to fulfill President Trump's promise to appoint Supreme Court Justices who would do two things which I believe are antithetical to equal justice under the law: dismantling the Affordable Care Act and overturning Roe v. Wade. So let's be clear about what is happening. We know Judge Barrett was nominated because President Trump and Republicans believe that she will help them overturn the Affordable Care Act and take us back to the days when millions more Americans do not have health insurance and insurance companies can deny coverage or charge exorbitant rates to people with preexisting conditions, like cancer or heart disease. They could charge women more and seniors more, and they would be able to charge more to people with COVID as a preexisting condition.…”