Schumer’s Feinstein Plan Met With GOP Opposition

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Monday he will introduce a resolution this week to temporarily replace 89-year-old Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., on the Judiciary Committee while she recovers from shingles.

Feinstein has been absent from the Senate since she was diagnosed with shingles, a painful rash caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox, in February. The Judiciary Committee now has 10 members from each party, with a 10-10 vote stalling any judicial nominees from President Joe Biden.

Schumer said at a news conference Monday he recently spoke to Feinstein but didn’t know when she will return.

“I spoke to Senator Feinstein just a few days ago. She believes she will return soon. She’s very hopeful of that and so am I,” Schumer said. “We think the Republicans should allow a temporary replacement until she returns.”

Democrats need 60 votes to fill Feinstein’s seat on the committee because at least two Republicans (Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Tom Cotton of Arkansas) said they will block any request for unanimous consent to seat another Democrat on the committee. 

“I will not go along with Chuck Schumer’s plan to replace Senator Feinstein on the Judiciary Committee and pack the court with activist judges,” Blackburn tweeted Monday. “Joe Biden wants the Senate to rubber-stamp his unqualified and controversial judges to radically transform America.”

Cotton agreed.

“Republicans should not assist Democrats in confirming Joe Biden’s most radical nominees to the courts,” Cotton tweeted Saturday, linking to a story from The Federalist that advises Republicans not to work with Democrats to fill Feinstein’s seat.

Schumer said he would talk with members of his caucus to figure out who would be a good choice to fill in for Feinstein. Schumer said he also plans to talk to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who returned to the Capitol on Monday after a five-week absence because of a concussion he suffered in a fall last month.

Schumer said he is concerned about the backup of nominees Feinstein’s absence is causing but puts the blame on Republicans.

“If you look at past Senates when Republicans have been in charge, there has never been this kind of stonewalling of nominees who were qualified, who have good credentials, etc.,” Schumer said. “I’m very upset with Republicans in terms of that.”