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WASHINGTON (AP) — The debate over whether it should be President Barack Obama or his successor who appoints the next Supreme Court justice is heating up.
Writing in today's Washington Post, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid says by refusing to approve an Obama nominee to succeed the late Justice Antonin Scalia, the GOP-led Senate would "aim a procedural missile at the foundation of our system of checks and balances."
But Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch tells CNN that the Constitution doesn't specify a "time constraint" for approving a new justice.
The No. 3 Democrat in the Senate, Chuck Schumer of New York, said today that he expects Obama to select a consensus candidate who could get bipartisan support.
But Sen. Ted Cruz, the Texan who has practiced before the high court and is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, has vowed to filibuster any nominee.
Republicans outnumber Democrats 11-9 on the Judiciary Committee, which would hold confirmation hearings and vote on whether to send the nominee to the full Senate. The GOP holds the majority, 54-46, and Democrats face an almost insurmountable task in trying to get 14 Republicans to join them in breaking a filibuster.
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126-c-18-(Mark Smith, AP White House correspondent)-"or down vote"-AP White House Correspondent Mark Smith reports the president could name a Supreme Court nominee as early as next week. (16 Feb 2016)
<<CUT *126 (02/16/16)££ 00:18 "or down vote"
124-c-21-(Shirley Smith, AP correspondent)-"to the court"-AP correspondent Shirley Smith reports Senate Republicans are uniting behind Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in insisting that President Barack Obama's successor fill the Supreme Court vacancy, but there's a different view from the other side. (16 Feb 2016)
<<CUT *124 (02/16/16)££ 00:21 "to the court"
APPHOTO DCSW101: The flag flies at half-staff outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016, following the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia over the weekend. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (16 Feb 2016)
<<APPHOTO DCSW101 (02/16/16)££
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