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October 23, 2020

Senate Democrats Boycott as Judiciary Committee Advances Amy Coney Barrett's Confirmation
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In the United States, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12 to zero
Thursday to recommend Amy Coney Barrett be confirmed to the Supreme
Court. Republican Chair Lindsey Graham disregarded his committee's own
rules requiring a quorum be present and proceeded with the vote after
all 10 of the Judiciary Committee's Democrats boycotted Thursday's roll
call. Majority Leader Mitch Mc Connell plans to hold a vote in the full
Senate as early as Monday.

Senate Democrats have called the rush to confirm Barrett so close to the
election an illegitimate power grab, and reproductive health advocates
warn Barrett could help overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court
case affirming the right to an abortion.

Meanwhile, environmentalists are warning Barrett's refusal to
acknowledge the science of climate change could spell disaster for
efforts to mitigate the worst effects of the climate crisis. Lori Lodes
of the group Climate Power 2020 wrote, "The last thing our country can
afford is a climate denier who will use her lifetime seat on the Supreme
Court to block climate action and roll back our environmental laws for
decades to come."


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