CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Both of New Hampshire’s Democratic U.S. senators said Monday they will vote against Brett Kavanaugh as a U.S. Supreme Court justice.
Shaheen said the nominee is out of step on the scope of a president’s executive power, women’s right to abortions and pre-existing conditions under the Affordable Care Act.
She also said she’s frustrated by the “lack of documentation” produced by Republicans and the nominee’s “refusal to answer basic questions about his judicial record and philosophy.” She said she believes Republicans are deliberately concealing his record.
“After careful consideration of his record and reviewing the limited documents made available to the U.S. Senate, I have come to the conclusion that I cannot support Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court,” she said in a statement.
Hassan said Kavanaugh has promoted a judicial philosophy that diminishes the rights of women and people of color, favors corporations over people, and promotes a right-wing ideology. She said everything Kavanaugh has said or done undermines his claim that he would be a neutral and impartial arbiter.
“Judge Kavanaugh was handpicked from a list of candidates developed with groups funded by corporate special interests, and the agenda he has implemented throughout his career aligns with that of the big corporations and the wealthiest few in our country,” she said in a statement.
Democrats don’t have the votes to block President Donald Trump’s nominee, but that didn’t stop them from putting up a fight at his confirmation hearings last week.
For the nomination to fail, several Republicans would have to flip because the GOP holds a 51-49 edge in the Senate. Two potential swing votes, Republican Sens. Susan Collins, of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, are still reviewing Kavanaugh’s record and haven’t said how they’re going to vote.
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