Blunt: Dems committed to packing Supreme Court — and that was before Ginsburg’s death
Missouri Republican Senator Roy Blunt says Democrats are “totally committed” to expanding the Supreme Court, though he believes that plan was in motion before justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death Friday.
Blunt was asked earlier this week by National Review reporter Ramesh Ponnuru what he thought about Democrats’ talk of potentially adding members to the highest court.
“They are totally committed to changing the [filibuster] rules, packing the Court, in all likelihood admitting two new states, and basically turning the Senate into the House,” Blunt told National Review. “The idea that somehow this latest development is what prompted them to do that is laughable.”
Ginsburg’s death raised the talk of potential retaliation by Democrats based on Republicans’ decision to have President Donald Trump nominate a replacement before the nation votes on whether to re-elect him Nov. 3.
Trump has said that he will name his Supreme Court choice Saturday.
Because Republicans control the Senate, the new appointee is expected to receive the support needed to be confirmed.
Blunt also pushed back on Democrats’ criticism that a Supreme Court justice should not be replaced by a president in an election year.
“What’s also laughable is any thought that if (Senate Minority Leader) Chuck Schumer had a Democratic president and a Democratic Senate, he wouldn’t fill the slot,” Blunt told National Review.
