U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
As Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate hold firm on claims they will not confirm a new Supreme Court justice until after the presidential election, House Speaker Paul Ryan predicts a lengthy battle over the issue.
Speaking to affiliate WCLO, Ryan said “this will be held over and it’s going to be really controversial, it’s going to be a huge fight.”
Ryan noted that the November election was already expected to have “huge consequences,” and the vacancy left by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia is just adding to them. “It’s like every consequence will be set up by the 2016 election,” he said.
The Wisconsin Republican does believe it’s possible Republicans could approve a nominee before next November, if a consensus candidate is put forward. Although, he said “I don’t know how that would happen…both sides agreed that you need 60 votes for somebody to make it through, and I just don’t that there’s a person out there, in an election year like this, where you’ll get 60 votes.”
Contributed by WCLO