Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI)
U.S. Senator Ron Johnson is standing by Republican plans to block a Supreme Court nominee. At an appearance in Madison on Wednesday, Johnson said there’s too much at stake, to allow President Barack Obama to select a justice to succeed the late Antonin Scalia.
“What’s at stake with the Supreme Court is literally our 2nd Amendment rights, our 1st Amendment rights,” Johnson said.
Johnson is not a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, but backs the play by Republican members, who’ve declared they won’t hold a hearing on any Obama nominee.
“Not acting is also withholding our consent, and that’s within our right,” Johnson said. “That’s really fulfilling our constitutional duty of advice and consent, by withholding our consent.”
The Wisconsin Republican, like many in his party, says the next president should have the opportunity to nominate the next justice.
“In a very unique moment in time, eight months before an election where the American public will decide the direction of the country, why not let the American people decide the direction of the Supreme Court? We may win that one, we may lose that one, but let the American people decide. I think it’s an eminently reasonable position to take.”