A coalition of liberal activist groups are joining forces with congressional Democrats to press Senate Republicans to allow a vote on President Obama’s eventual nominee to fill the seat of the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
“I am amazed at how much concern, upsetness, flummoxedness — how upset people are about this,” said Sen. Charles Schumer, New York Democrat. “Grass-roots voices are going to be the key to getting Senator [Mitch] McConnell to back off.”
Mr. McConnell, the Senate majority leader from Kentucky, has said the Senate should wait for a new president in 2017 to nominate a candidate for the high court.
“Senator McConnell will have to back off,” Mr. Schumer said.
The Progressive Change Campaign Committee and other advocacy groups said they will be working with Democrats to inundate GOP lawmakers with emails, letters, phone calls and social media contacts to allow a hearing and vote on a nominee.
“We’re making clear that the public is paying attention,” said PCCC co-founder Adam Green.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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