Missouri’s Senior U.S. Senator doesn’t want the Republicans in her chamber to block the president’s nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Senator Claire McCaskill (D) says it’s ironic that’s some Republicans argue the seat left vacant by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia should remain vacant until a new president is elected. She says Scalia believed in closely following the Constitution, and the Constitution says nothing that would keep President Obama from making a nomination.
“The last time I looked [the Constitution] said the president had a four-year term, not a three-year term, and it said the Senate had a “duty” on advise and consent,” said McCaskill. “So I think it’s the president’s job to nominate and I think it’s the Senate’s job to consider the nomination. Republicans may reject that nomination. That’s certainly within their right to do so.”
McCaskill wants a nomination hearing, and said her position has nothing to do with politics.
“I would feel that way if this were George W. Bush. I would feel this way if it were a Republican in the last year [of a term],” said McCaskill. “I can’t promise that I would vote for the nominee but I certainly would make the commitment that I would want there to be a hearing and I would want us to consider it. I think it’s our job.”
Obama has nominated U.S. Appeals Court Judge Merrick Garland.