Republican
Kirk breaks with U.S. Senate leaders on high court seat
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[February 23, 2016]
By Susan Cornwell and Eric Beech
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican U.S.
Senator Mark Kirk, facing a tough re-election fight in Illinois, said on
Monday the Senate should vote on whomever President Barack Obama
nominates to the U.S. Supreme Court, breaking with his party's
leadership.
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In another defection among Republicans, Senator Susan Collins of
Maine called for hearings on the eventual nominee.
A political fight has erupted over filling the court's vacancy left
by the Feb. 13 death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, with
many top Republicans threatening to block any nominee put forth by
the Democratic president.
Obama's nominee could shift the court to the left for the first time
in decades.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said the seat should
remain vacant until Obama's successor takes office in January so
voters can have a say on the selection when they cast ballots in the
November presidential election.
Kirk wrote in a Chicago Sun-Times opinion piece that he recognized
the right of any president to choose a Supreme Court nominee and he
looked forward to Obama picking one for the Senate to consider for
confirmation.
"I also recognize my duty as a senator to either vote in support or
opposition to that nominee following a fair and thorough hearing
along with a complete and transparent release of all requested
information," Kirk added.
Kirk, who holds Obama's old Senate seat, said he hoped the president
would pick a nominee "who can bridge differences, a nominee who
finds common ground and a nominee who does not speak or act in the
extreme."
Kirk's stance illustrates that McConnell may have trouble keeping
Senate Republicans fully united over filling Scalia's seat. Some
senators like Kirk are seeking re-election this year in states where
Democrats are competitive.
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Collins, who is not facing re-election until 2020, said on Monday
the Senate had an obligation to hold public hearings on Obama's
nominee.
"The kind of thorough process that a hearing allows is the best way
to evaluate a nominee," Collins told reporters, according to the
Hill newspaper.
But it appeared unlikely that enough Republicans would peel away
from McConnell to allow a vote on the Senate floor.
Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah said on Monday it was up to
McConnell and Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley to decide
whether to hold confirmation hearings.
"I feel like we ought to put it off and get it out of this harsh
atmosphere," Hatch told reporters.
(Reporting by Eric Beech, Susan Cornwell and Richard Cowan; Writing
by Will Dunham; Editing by Howard Goller and Peter Cooney)
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