Joe Morelle: “While this is not on the agenda, and I will remind people that we have a rule that stipulates which bills are in front…”

“While this is not on the agenda, and I will remind people that we have a rule that stipulates which bills are in front of us, I note with alarm the suggestion that we ought to change the Constitution when it comes to the Supreme Court, and for fear that we are undermining the confidence of the Court, frankly, I am astonished. How about following the current Constitution? Forget about amending it. How about following the one that we have? I just note that when Merrick Garland was nominated by President Obama in March of 2016, 293 days his nomination went without any action in the United States Senate. Amy Coney Barrett was nominated September 26, a mere 6 weeks, 5 weeks before election day. Senator McConnell and the Senate didn't follow the Constitution which says advise and consent on nominations sent by the President. They did absolutely nothing with the nominee Garland. They didn't seek to do anything. In fact, Mitch McConnell talked about the politics of it. Talk about undermining the confidence of the American public in the Supreme Court? How about that? Yet when President Trump just 5 weeks before a Presidential election made a nomination, it was swiftly pushed through. Undermining confidence in the Supreme Court? How about confirmation proceedings where Brett Kavanaugh or Neil Gorsuch both said that Roe is settled law; a precedent for 50 years? They said it in confirmation hearings.…”