Senate Republican leaders are making plans to vote on the Supreme Court nomination of federal appeals Judge Brett Kavanaugh in time for him to take his seat when the high court opens its fall session Oct. 1.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has proposed this schedule, say insiders:
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- Labor Day week, Sept. 4-7, the committee would hold confirmation hearings.
- Two weeks later committee would vote on Kavanaugh.
- Last week of September, 24-28, floor debate and vote.
- October 1, Kavanaugh would take his seat as the court starts oral arguments.
Republicans believe the votes are in for confirmation, though there are lingering concerns about Maine Sen. Susan Collins and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Collins indicated she was OK with Kavanaugh when she announced this week after meeting the judge that he believed the abortion rights ruling Roe vs. Wade is “settled law.”
Murkowski this week also met with Kavanaugh and said their huddle was “an important step” in her vetting process. “That process, however, has not concluded,” she added.
[Related: Brett Kavanaugh offers praise of ‘trailblazing’ women as Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski decide fate]
In addition to filling all the seats on the court, the aggressive schedule is geared to avoiding a delay past Election Day, which some Democrats prefer.
Possibly as many as three Senate Democrats up for reelection in states that backed President Trump’s election are feeling voter pressure to support Kavanaugh. This week, one of those senators, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a state Trump has repeatedly visited, rejected Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s demand that the confirmation hearings be delayed.
Republicans fear that if the vote is pushed back to after Election Day, those Democrats will feel no pressure to confirm Kavanaugh, putting him in jeopardy of winning a Supreme Court seat.
