Feinstein keeps focus on Affordable Care Act, consequences of 'rushing' nomination
Setting the tone for Democrats, Ranking Member Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., gave a nod to the legacy of the late Justice Ginsburg -- calling her a "standard-bearer for justice” -- before offering a preview of what her Democrats will focus on: Judge Barrett’s views on the Affordable Care Act and what she called the “consequences” of a rushed nomination.
“In filling Judge Ginsburg's seat, the stakes are extraordinarily high for the American people both in the short term and for decades to come. Most importantly, health care coverage, for millions of Americans, is at stake with this nomination,” Feinstein said. “So, over the course of these hearings, my colleagues and I will focus on that subject.”
“We will examine the consequences if, and that's a big " if," Republicans succeed in rushing this nomination through the Senate, before the next president takes office,” she continued, despite Republicans saying they're confident they can get a final vote before Election Day.
The Court is slated to hear oral arguments on the Affordable Care Act, which the Trump administration is seeking to overturn, one week after the election on Nov. 10., raising concern among Democrats on its fate amid a pandemic.
“We can't afford to go back to those days, when Americans could be denied coverage or charged exorbitant amounts. That's what's at stake for many of us, for America, with this nomination,” she said.
Feinstein also quoted Graham from when he previously said that a Supreme Court nominee shouldn't be confirmed when voting is underway.
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