U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich) will vote no Monday evening on the vote to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. In a speech on the U.S. Senate floor yesterday, Senator Stabenow highlighted Judge Barrett’s previous statements against the Affordable Care Act, which provides health care to more than 1 million people in Michigan and critical protections to everyone with private health insurance. In just two weeks, the Supreme Court will take up the Republican case to strike down the entire ACA.
Senator Stabenow also raised Judge Barrett’s refusal to acknowledge that Medicare and Social Security are constitutional, voter discrimination exists or that the climate crisis is real.
“All across our country this year, we’ve seen Americans standing up and speaking out for greater equality and greater justice. Our choice is this: Does the highest court in the land stand with the people as they strive to build a more perfect union? Or does the Court side with powerful interests and the most extreme views in America,” said Senator Stabenow. “Judge Amy Coney Barrett does not stand on the side of people. She does not represent mainstream values – the values we cherish in Michigan.”
In her speech Sunday, Senator Stabenow explained why she will vote against Judge Barrett’s confirmation. A video of the speech can be found here. A transcript is below.
U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.) on Monday spoke on the Senate floor opposing Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. In his remarks, Peters highlighted how over two million Michiganders have already voted and that Americans deserve to have a say in who nominates and confirms the next Justice to a lifetime appointment on our nation’s highest court. He stressed the far-reaching consequences of the Supreme Court, including the health care lawsuit pushed by the Trump Administration to overturn the Affordable Care Act and end protections for people with pre-existing health conditions that will be argued before the Supreme Court on November 10th. He also reiterated the need for the Senate to focus on passing comprehensive, meaningful and bipartisan relief for Michiganders struggling with the Coronavirus pandemic.
“This nominee will significantly impact the lives of Michiganders and folks all across our country,” said Senator Peters. “We know that the Supreme Court is set to shortly consider a case that has far-reaching ramifications for peoples’ health care. The Trump Administration is arguing in court that the Affordable Care Act should be overturned in a case that will come before the Supreme Court in November, just 7 days after Election Day.”
“If the Trump Administration gets its way in this lawsuit – we could go back to the days when insurance companies once again call the shots on peoples’ health care.”
“…With all that’s at stake – Michiganders deserve a say in who nominates and confirms the next Justice to our nation’s highest court. And the fact that Michiganders are being denied this opportunity is simply unacceptable. Therefore – I cannot support this nomination process – it should wait until a new President and Senate take office following an election to take place in only a few days. So for this reason and many others I will not be voting for Judge Barrett’s confirmation. I will cast a no vote.”
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