October 24, 2020
Lisa Murkowski to vote yes on Amy Coney Barrett nomination
by the Washington Examiner
Sen. Lisa Murkowski said on Saturday that she intends to vote in favor of confirming President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
The Alaska Republican opposed moving forward with Barrett’s nomination on the grounds that it came too close to an election and that the Republicans set a precedent back in 2016 when it denied President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee a vote because of its proximity to Election Day.
“I have no doubt about her intellect. I have no doubt about Judge Barrett's judicial temperament. I have no doubt about her capability to do the job,” Murkowski said on the Senate floor.
While Murkowski, who is known for her independent streak and centrism, said that she would throw her support behind Barrett, she made it clear that she did not support the Senate GOP’s effort to bring Barrett’s nomination to a vote before the Nov. 3 election.
“While I oppose the process that led us to this point, I do not hold it against her,” the Alaska lawmaker said.
“There will be at least one more procedural vote on Sunday, and I will once again object to advancing the nomination past cloture. Assuming that motion prevails, when we reach a final vote, I will vote to confirm Judge Barrett to serve on the Supreme Court," the senator said in a press release after announcing her intention to vote for Barrett.
Murkowski did not vote for Trump’s controversial Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh after his confirmation hearings. She was the only Republican senator not to do so.
Her vote against Kavanaugh caused tension with Trump, who said that voters in the Last Frontier would “never forgive her.” She is known for pulling off a stunning win in 2010 when, as an incumbent, she was challenged in a primary by Tea Party candidate Joe Miller and still managed to win the election by running as a write-in candidate against both Miller and her Democratic challenger. She is next up for reelection in 2022.
Now that Murkowski has expressed her intent to vote for Barrett, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine appears to be the only Republican holdout. She has also expressed her disagreement with holding the vote so close to a presidential election.
Additionally, Collins is facing an uphill battle for reelection in Maine, where Democratic challenger Sara Gideon is up in the polls. Her vote in favor of Kavanaugh, who faced allegations of sexual misconduct, has been used as a political cudgel against her by Democrats.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/lisa-murkowski-to-vote-yes-on-amy-coney-barrett-nomination
Gold is $1,581/oz today. When it hits $2,000, it will be up 26.5%. Let's see how long that takes. - De 3/11/2013 - ANSWER: 7 Years, 5 Months
| 
