At a meeting in the White House with President Obama this week, Chuck Grassley reiterated his pledge to obstruct the Supreme Court confirmation process. Grassley, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is refusing to hold committee hearings or a vote for President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, even though the nominee has not yet been named. Grassley did not even suggest any nominees to the president today.
In response, IDP Chair Dr. Andy McGuire issued the follow statement:
“Iowans expect their elected leaders to do their job for the good of the country. However, with a vacancy now on the Supreme Court and many pressing issues facing the Court this year and next, Chuck Grassley continues to refuse to do his job.
“Instead, Grassley, along with Joni Ernst, is content to play political games with the Supreme Court and completely obstruct the confirmation process until after the 2016 presidential election – even though President Obama has not yet announced whom he will nominate to the bench. Grassley’s refusal to do his job while President Obama is in office will leave the Supreme Court understaffed for the better part of two Court terms, which is totally unacceptable.
“This is partisan obstructionism at its worst. It’s time for Grassley to put aside partisan political games, and do his job.”
Proud of Grassley. Polls are not true or factual!
Chuck is NOT representing Iowans on this issue, not at all.
Even Iowa Republican voters polled this week, 56% think Grassley is taking far too extreme of a position by saying he won’t approve President Obama’s choice without even knowing who that choice is.
Overall voters in Iowa polled this week, 76% think Grassley is wrong.
The ridiculous posture leaves Grassley in the unenviable position of becoming a laughingstock for the ages.
If Grassley were there to do his job, he’d fulfill his duties, honor the constitutional process, and start preparation for confirmation hearings. Not saying he has to confirm, but he has to do his job & hold the hearings
But what we’re left with is a picture of a powerful senator in the midst of a tantrum & even for this Congress, it’s a sad spectacle.
Senator Grassley is doing his job. He was elected to represent Iowa and govern by consent. I do not want a new judge appointed until the American people give their consent.
If you condsider how the Constitution was written, by default, these kinds of scenarios will occur. The founding fathers left the ambiguity for the lawmakers to use. (My opinion)
This particular Supreme Court nominee will change the American culture if a liberal judge is voted onto the Supreme Courlt. Changing our culture should be a choice the American citizens make.
Mr. Grassley is doing exactly what I expect of him and is why I voted for him.
I am not willing to roll over and let the Federal Government make that decision for me and you shouldn’t either.
Be careful what you wish for lap dog…….. says Madame President.
It will be hard for her to be anything other than a prisoner.
I wonder if any Democrat Representative or Senator has ever held up a vote on someone or something? Has President Obama ever done the same by not acting on a bill or appointment before him?
Harry Reid did it for four years.
Mitch McConnell has done it for 7 1/2
@Bodacious-Get real. McConnel has only been in control for two years. And, he has allowed votes on almost every issue where Reid allowed none.
Your statement isn’t correct. McConnell was elected Majority Whip in 2004 and Minority Leader in 2006. He has been in control of the Republicans since then. By the way, in 2005, this man defended the sitting president’s right to nominate Supreme Court Justices or any justice, as a constitutional right. And guess who was President when he said that.
Reid has been in charge of managing the senate until the last two years and refused to allow any Republican bill to be voted on. And Schummer did the exact same thing on a Supreme Court vote long before this came about.
@Buzz, why should that matter? I am tired of all these hypocrites who make one statement when their party is in power and then do a 360 when they aren’t in power. And just because HE did it, doesn’t make it right for YOU to do it.
My point(s) exactly. As they say…I guess it all depends on whose ox is getting gored.
I did receive a reply that basically said he wasn’t changing his mind.
Iowans elected Senator Grassley to work for Iowans not to play political games. The people of this Country have spoken twice in favor of electing Obama and he has 9 months left in office to work for the people and that includes under the constitution to nominate someone to the Supreme Court. Senator Grassley do your job and its not to hold up the process!
Ditto. Lets send Chuck a powerful mandate that its time to retire and vote the career politician out to pasture. There is serious coffee shop talk that its over.
Republicans are imploding all over the place. Whether it’s their party falling apart over Drumpf or refusing to even hold a hearing on any nominee of Obama’s. Every poll shows the majority of American people want a justice nominated. The Republicans are literally voting themselves out of the Senate by not doing their jobs. The conservative movement in general is dying off with all of their old, white, male supporters.
Thats right – The kenyon can nominate someone but he cannot appoint one -thank god.
You low lifers – he should be heading an investigation into Judge Scalias mysterious departure from this world – You are considered low lifes in gods eyes.
I think I have to go along with “Watching” and Katie on this one. If you don’t like the law then change it, but until then follow it.
I too have emailed Sen. Grassley asking him and other senators to do their job. Like him or not Obama’s term does not end until January so he has every legal right to nominate someone to fill the vacancy. Republicans need to hold the hearings and take a vote then let the chips fall where they will.
There’s a good chance he won’t name one until he knows with all certainty the out come of the HRC investigations. By doing so he can gamble a little on her winning the election and having her legacy start by appointing a judge and the direction of the court or worse case Obama can release a short list sympathetic to how we handle classified intelligence in the electronic age. Obama is stonewalling as well. This is certainly a framing error brought on by the media failing to cover both side of the story.
As a Republican, I totally disagree with Grassley on this issue and I sent him an email to let him know how I felt. Congress needs to change the law on recess appointments to SCOTUS or there needs to be an amendment to the Constitution, whichever is needed to make it legal one way or another. Senators cannot decide to apply this however it suits them politically. I find it strange that a president doesn’t have several choices pre-vetted and ready to name one almost immediately upon the death or resignation of a Justice.