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McCollum Urges U.S. Senate to Fulfill Constitutional Duty and Act on President's Supreme Court Nominee

March 17, 2016

(March 16, 2016) Rep. Betty McCollum issued the following statement today upon the announcement by President Barack Obama that he is nominating Judge Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court:

"President Obama has nominated Federal Appeals Court Judge Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a former federal prosecutor and a highly respected jurist. Playing election year politics, Republicans in the Senate are determined to deny Judge Garland a hearing and floor vote, using the presidential campaign as an excuse for inaction, blatantly abdicating their duty under the Constitution.

Why? In the hope that Donald Trump will be elected president and make his own nomination in 2017?

With a vacancy on the Supreme Court the American people must demand that the U.S. Senate fulfill its constitutional responsibility and duty – 'Advice and Consent' – to hold a hearing and a vote on this highly qualified judicial nominee."