Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Senate Speeds Toward Barrett Confirmation
AP: Democrats Ask Pence To Skip Barrett Vote Over COVID-19 Risk
A deeply torn Senate is set to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, Republicans overpowering Democratic opposition and institutional norms to secure President Donald Trump’s nominee the week before Election Day. Barrett’s confirmation Monday was hardly in doubt as Senate Republicans seized the opportunity to install a third Trump justice, securing a conservative court majority for the foreseeable future. With no real power to stop the vote, Democrats argued into the night Sunday that the winner of the Nov. 3 election should be the one to choose the nominee to fill the vacancy left by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. (Mascaro, 10/26)
Politico: Barrett Clears Pivotal Senate Hurdle Ahead Of Monday Confirmation Vote
The Senate cleared a key procedural hurdle Sunday for Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination for the Supreme Court, bringing the 48-year-old judge one step closer to confirmation to the high court. In a 51-48 vote, the Senate kicked off 30 hours of debate on Barrett’s nomination, setting up a final confirmation vote for Monday evening, just eight days before the Nov. 3 election. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), the Democratic vice presidential nominee, wasn’t present for the vote. The Senate is expected to remain in session overnight into Monday. (Levine and Desiderio, 10/25)
The Washington Post: Barrett Nomination Clears Senate Hurdle, On Course To Confirmation To Supreme Court
“We made an important contribution to the future of this country,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Sunday, praising Barrett as a “stellar nominee” in every respect. “A lot of what we’ve done over the last four years will be undone sooner or later by the next election. They won’t be able to do much about this for a long time to come.” ... Democrats, powerless to stop her confirmation, have cast the process as a power grab by Republicans eager to rush the nomination days ahead of the election. They repeatedly warned that Barrett is a threat to health care for millions of Americans, abortion rights and gay rights. (Min Kim, 10/25)
Also —
The Hill: Schumer Warns Of COVID-19 Danger Posed By Pence On Senate Floor
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is warning colleagues to spend as little time on the Senate floor as possible after members of Vice President Pence’s staff and Senate GOP aides tested positive for COVID-19. Schumer is sounding the alarm ahead of a final up-or-down vote on Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, over which Pence, who is the president of the Senate, is expected to preside in the chamber. That vote is expected Monday evening. (Bolton, 10/25)
