Schumer outside US Capitol: "I am here to stand with my colleagues on the Judiciary Cmte who are boycotting today's cmte markup on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court."
Schumer: "This is not a decision the members have taken lightly, but a Republican majority has left us no choice. We are boycotting this illegitimate hearing."
Schumer: "Chairman Graham has broken the rules of the cmte to move forward with a vote on Judge Barrett anyway. The rules require 2 members of the minority to be present to vote anyone out of cmte, but Chairman Graham just steamrolled over them."
Judiciary Top Democrat Feinstein on Judge Barrett:"Last week cmte rules were broken to set today's vote and the Republicans broke the rules again by proceeding today w/o any Democrats present..Democrats have objected to proceeding on this nomination in the middle of an election."
Feinstein (D-CA): "Last week, Democrats participated in the nomination hearings because we wanted to show what's at stake for America if Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed. We made our case."
Feinstein:"The Democratic mbrs of Judiciary Cmte did not have the votes to defeat Judge Barrett in cmte. At that point, there was no further reason to participate in a cmte process that has been used to rush this nominee forward. I will be voted against Judge Barrett on the flr."
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Senate NOW voting to proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to be Associate Justice of US Supreme Court. Simple majority is needed. Business on Executive Calendar,which consists of nominations and treaties, is considered in executive session.
Many Senators are voting from their floor desks on this vote to begin debate on Barrett nomination.
Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) both voted No against the Senate entering executive session to consider the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to be an Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court.
Senate now is session and is holding a live quorum to mark Senators attendance, allowing the Senate to conduct business. A vote on McConnell motion to proceed to Legislative Session is expected next.
Senate Judiciary Cmte Chair Graham after Barrett vote: "The Cmte did the right thing. The judge deserved a vote up or down. Democrats chose to participate in the hearings, asked her hard questions. I think they owed it to her to show up today and vote her yes or no."
Graham on Judiciary Cmte Democrats boycott and Barrett cmte vote: "They made a decision. I made a decision. It'd be wrong to deny Judge Barrett a chance to be confirmed on the floor of the United States Senate." c-span.org/video/?477247-…
Graham (R-SC):"If you're a Democrat,the people who want to pack the court will come after you if you say no. Senator Feinstein's a wonderful person, a progressive Senator who for decades been supportive of the pro-choice cause. She dared hug me and looks what's happening to her."
Senate Judiciary Chair Graham opens meeting to vote on SCOTUS nominee Amy Coney Barrett: "As you know, our Democratic colleagues informed the cmte last night they will not participate in the hearing. That was their choice. It will be my choice to vote the nominee out of cmte."
Graham on Judiciary Cmte Democrats:"We're not going to allow them to take over the cmte.They made a choice not to participate." Cmte Democrats have placed ACA-related posters they used at the Barrett hearings in their seats instead of attending the meeting to vote on the nominee.
12-0: Senate Judiciary Cmte voted unanimously to favorably report out the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to be an Associate Justice to US Supreme Court to the full Senate for floor debate and confirmation vote. All 10 Cmte Democrats did not today's meeting to protest the vote.
Senate Intel Acting Chair Rubio & Vice Chief Warner: “Our adversaries abroad seek to sow chaos & undermine voters belief in our democratic institutions, including the election systems and infrastructure that we rely on to record & properly report expressions of the voters’ will.”
Rubio-Warner bipartisan statement: “They may seek to target those systems, or simply leave the impression that they have altered or manipulated those systems, in order to undermine their credibility and our confidence in them.”
Rubio-Warner: “As we enter the last weeks before the election, we urge every American – including members of the media – to be cautious about believing or spreading unverified, sensational claims related to votes and voting.”