Reps. Matt Salmon, Ruben Gallego, and Paul Gosar offered comments in support of Senate leaders after President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court.
“In 1992, Vice-President Joe Biden lauded ‘the tradition against acting on Supreme Court nominations in a Presidential year.’ Today, the President fulfills his much-talked-about constitutional duty to nominate a candidate for the vacancy on the Supreme Court. And today, after receiving that nomination, the Senate fulfills its equally important power to control when, and if, it considers that nominee. The Senate has already promised to hold firm and allow the next president of the United States to make this nomination. This is prudent, it is deliberative, it is constitutional, and it is the right course of action,” stated Salmon.
“I congratulate Judge Merrick Garland on his nomination to the Supreme Court. Judge Garland is an experienced and respected jurist with a long history of service to our nation,” stated Gallego.
“As a member of Congress who was elected to do my job, I take my constitutional duty seriously” continued Gallego. The Constitution gives the President the responsibility to nominate Justices to the Supreme Court, and gives the Senate the job of considering that nominee. There are no exceptions for election years. Judge Garland deserves a fair hearing and a timely vote.”
Gallego concluded, “President Obama dd his job this morning. The Senate should now do theirs.”
“You reap what you sow Mr. President. Elections DO have consequences and the American people voted to take the Senate away from Democrats for this exact reason. While the president has the right to nominate a Supreme Court replacement, the Senate has every right to not confirm a nominee… and that is exactly what they should and will do,” stated Gosar.