Duckworth Statement on Senate Republicans’ Elimination of 60-Vote Standard for Supreme Court Nominees

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following Senate Republicans' decision to overturn decades of Senate precedent and eliminate the 60 vote threshold for Supreme Court nominees, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement:

"In their haste to give President Donald Trump's nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch, a lifetime seat on the Supreme Court, Senate Republicans have engaged in an unprecedented abuse of power and unraveled a vital check and balance that ensured Supreme Court Justices are in the mainstream. There's a good reason the Senate has required nominees to be able to overcome a filibuster and earn the support of members from both parties. It protects our Supreme Court from the passions of political partisanship and from Justices with extreme beliefs. Confirming judges by such a small margin will have far-reaching consequences for millions of Americans and our entire union."

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