Indian American VP nominee says Trump nominee will take away healthcare from millions of Americans.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris has slammed what she called Republicans’ attempt to “jam through” the confirmation hearing of President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee in the midst of a deadly pandemic.
Joe Biden’s Indian American running mate, who is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, participated in the hearing Monday to consider the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to replace late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
In her opening statement, Harris demanded the committee wait to confirm a new Supreme Court justice until after the American people—who are currently voting—have the chance to decide who they want in the White House.
“More than 9 million Americans have already voted and millions more will vote while this illegitimate committee process is underway,” Harris said. “A clear majority of Americans want whomever wins this election to fill this seat. And my Republican colleagues know that.”
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“Yet they are deliberately defying the will of the people in their attempt to roll back the rights and protections provided under the Affordable Care Act.”
Suggesting that if confirmed Barrett “will take away healthcare from millions of Americans,” Harris said the legacy of Ginsburg and the rights she fought to protect are at stake with Barrett’s nomination.
Noting that the hearing had brought together more than 50 people to sit inside of a closed door room for hours in the midst of “a deadly airborne virus, Harris accused the committee of ignoring commonsense requests to keep people safe.
For Senate Republicans, she said rushing a Supreme Court nomination is more important than helping and supporting the American people who are suffering from a deadly pandemic and a devastating economic crisis.
“Republicans finally realized the Affordable Care Act is too popular to repeal in Congress, so now they are trying to bypass the will of voters and have the Supreme Court do their dirty work,” Harris said.
By replacing Ginsburg with someone who will undo her legacy, Trump is attempting to roll back Americans’ rights for decades to come, she said.
“Every American must understand that with this nomination, equal justice under law is at stake,” Harris said. “Our voting rights are at stake. Workers’ rights are at stake. Consumer rights are at stake.”
“The right to safe and legal abortion is at stake. Holding corporations accountable is at stake. And again there is so much more.”
Harris said lawmakers “must listen to our constituents and protect their access to health care, and wait to confirm a new Supreme Court justice until after Americans decide who they want in the White House.”