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Sens. Carper, Coons at odds on Gorsuch confirmation

Delaware Public Media

U.S. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch is expected to get a confirmation vote in front of the full Senate next week. And Delaware’s two U.S. Senators have different thoughts on how to proceed.

 

 

Sen. Tom Carper has joined a group of 30 Democratic senators who are opposing Neil Gorsuch’s nomination until Republicans give President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, a full consideration.

“My hope is that somewhere down the line later this year we can perhaps consider both of them, almost simultaneously,” Carper said.

Meanwhile, Delaware’s junior senator remains undecided on whehter to support Gorsuch’s nomination or a Democratic filibuster.

Sen. Chris Coons told MSNBC this week he thinks Gorsuch has strong qualifications but could be the most conservative justice on the bench.

Coons added that tit-for-tat obstructionism is a dangerous road to go down. 

“There are Republicans mad at us over the 2013 change to the filibuster rule. We’re mad at them for shutting down the government. They’re mad at us for Gorsuch. And we’re not headed in a very good direction. I’m very concerned about where we’re headed,” Coons said. 

Coons doesn’t think Gorsuch will get the 60 votes necessary for confirmation under a Democratic filibuster.

That could force Republicans to use a maneuver referred to as the “nuclear option,” which will lower the vote threshold to a simple majority and make the confirmation possible without Democratic support.    

But that will most certainly fuel the partisan anger Coons would like to end.    

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