Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Just Like That, Senate's Vote On Amy Coney Barrett No Longer A Sure Thing
Politico: Coronavirus Infects 3 Senators, Derailing Senate Schedule
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Saturday that the full Senate will not return until Oct. 19 — two weeks later than planned — after three GOP senators tested positive for the coronavirus. But McConnell also vowed that the Senate would still move ahead with Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court nomination, with the Senate Judiciary Committee set to begin confirmation hearings on Oct. 12. (Everett, Levine and Ferris, 10/3)
The Washington Post: Positive Tests For Senators Raise Doubts About Fast-Track Confirmation Of Trump's Supreme Court Choice
From the start, Senate Republican leaders have known their ambitious timeline to get Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett confirmed before Election Day offered little room for error. But that tightly crafted schedule has now been thrown into uncertainty with the coronavirus diagnoses of at least two Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee and the fear that other senators could test positive in the coming days. A handful of other GOP senators, on and off the committee, are also isolating as a precaution after being exposed to infected colleagues. (Kim, 10/4)
The Atlantic: Amy Coney Barrett's Confirmation Is In Jeopardy
September 26 was a festive day for Republicans in Washington. Under overcast skies, President Donald Trump strode to a podium in the White House Rose Garden to introduce Judge Amy Coney Barrett as his nominee to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. A military band played “Hail to the Chief,” and about 150 guests, including senior members of the Republican Party, the president’s Cabinet, and the Senate, sat shoulder to shoulder and mostly without masks as they cheered the nomination of a 48-year-old conservative to a lifetime seat. (Berman, 10/3)
The Hill: Tom Cotton: 'No Doubt' Coronavirus Won't Stop Confirmation Of SCOTUS Nominee
Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton (R) said Sunday that he has "no doubt" the Senate GOP's efforts to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court will go on as planned despite the positive diagnosis for coronavirus reported by several senators who attended her nomination event last week. In an interview with "Sunday Morning Futures" host Maria Bartiromo on Fox News, Cotton assured viewers that the Senate's business would remain on track despite several GOP senators testing positive for COVID-19 following last weekend's event. (Bowden, 10/4)
In related Supreme Court news —
NBC News: Supreme Court Begins New Term, Will Decide Fate Of Obamacare — And Maybe The Election
The future the Affordable Care Act and the sweep of religious freedom are among the high-profile issues coming before the U.S. Supreme Court in its new term that begins Monday. The court could also be dragged into disputes over the presidential election before the year is over. (Williams, 10/5)
WBUR: The Election And A Fresh Obamacare Challenge Loom Over New Supreme Court Term
The U.S. Supreme Court opens a new court term Monday, while across the street at the Capitol, Republicans are seeking to jam through, before the Nov. 3 election, President Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the court. Trump offered Barrett the nomination just two days after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died. And since then, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has been leading the GOP charge to get Barrett confirmed before Election Day. (Totenberg, 10/5)
