Amy Coney Barrett begins Supreme Court confirmation hearing

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., has the historic opportunity this week to question a Supreme Court nominee while on the ticket of a major political party. Appearing virtually, she began her opening statement by criticizing Senate Republicans for holding the hearing and disregarding, she said, the health and safety of Capitol staff.

“The decision to hold this hearing now is reckless and places the facility's workers, janitorial staff and congressional aides and Capitol police at risk, not to mention that while tens of millions of Americans are struggling to pay their bills,” Harris said. “The Senate should be prioritizing coronavirus relief and providing financial support to those families.”

Harris said if Republicans succeed with their nomination, they will likely eliminate protections for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions --without regard for the legacy of Justice Ginsburg. 

"By replacing Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with someone who will undo her legacy, President Trump is attempting to roll back Americans' rights for decades to come,” Harris said. “Every American must understand that with this nomination equal justice under law is at stake. Our voting rights are at stake. Workers' rights are at stake. Consumer rights are at stake. The right to a safe and legal abortion is at stake. And holding corporations accountable is at stake.”

After Harris wrapped, Barrett's children and sisters reentered the hearing room, in a sign that Barrett's opening statement isn't far off.

More on other key questions the court will consider this term can be found here.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said in his opening statement that Republicans are rushing through the process with the ultimate goal of overturning not just the Affordable Care Act but Roe v. Wade, calling the whole hearing “a charade.”

“President Trump has explicitly stated he would only put up Supreme Court nominees that would overturn Roe V. Wade. He said it clearly. We should believe him,” Booker began. 

“We're here because in the middle of an ongoing election, Republicans have found a nominee in Judge Barrett, to do what they couldn't do, subvert the will of the American people and overturn the ACA and overturn Roe v. Wade,” Booker said. “That's what this is about.”

In an appeal across the aisle, Booker reminded, “If one of my colleagues will stand up on this committee, we will hold this over until after the election," before ripping into the process.

“It's not normal the senators are rushing through a confirmation hearing, violating their own words and their own statements, betraying the trust of the American people and their colleagues and failing to take in this hearing, the most basic safety protections to protect people around them, all to ensure that tens of millions of people will lose their health care when we're seven months into one of the worst public health crises in our country,” Booker concluded.

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, facing a tight reelection fight, went after Democrats for what she called attacks on Judge Barrett’s Catholic faith -- as her colleague Sen. Hawley had done before -- yet no Democrats have raised her Catholic faith in the hearing so far.

“This week will be an opportunity to dig into your background further and understand more about your judicial philosophy,” Ernst said to Barrett. “But what your political opponents want to paint you as is a TV or cartoon version of a religious radical. A so-called 'handmaid' that feeds into the ridiculous stereotypes they set out to lambaste people of faith in America.”

“They are attacking you as a mom and a woman of faith because they cannot attack your qualifications,” she added. 

Ernst, who has served in the Senate since 2015, also said, “It frustrates me and it frustrates my fellow Iowans that the Supreme Court has become a super legislature for a Congress that, frankly, won't come together and discuss the tough issues and do its job.”

Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, again emphasized the Democratic attack line: what she called the “devastating” threat Judge Barrett poses to health care of millions of Americans if she’s confirmed, recalling the stories of her constituents who rely on the Affordable Care Act.

“President Trump has been very clear about what he's doing. He's promised to appoint Supreme Court justices, who will strike down the ACA,” Hirono said. “Judge Barrett is keeping her promise.”

“They are confident that victory at the Supreme Court is now within their grasp if the Senate confirms Judge Barrett through this hypocritical, illegitimate process,” she said, before recalling the importance of health care access in her own life. 

“To Kimberly, Dean, Jordan and personal to me, too, because I know that having health insurance and access to health care saved my life,” said the kidney cancer survivor. “The Affordable Care Act provided this peace of mind for so many people over the years who found themselves in positions similar to mine. Their lives and health are what's at stake. Their lives are what's at stake with the nomination."

She ended with an emotional appeal to Graham and her Republican colleagues.

“This can be a moment, Mr. Chairman, for you, and your Republican colleagues to show the American people -- terrified about losing their health care -- the same care and compassion you showed me and continued to show me, when I was diagnosed with cancer,” she said. “Let's end this hypocritical, illegitimate hearing, and return to the urgent work we have before us, to help those suffering.”