By Eric Stock
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said an attempt by Senate Republican leaders to block any Supreme Court nomination from President Barack Obama feeds the public’s mistrust of government.
PODCAST: Listen to Dan and Colleen’s interview with Durbin on WJBC.
“What we are facing now in the Senate is an illustration of the dysfunction of Washington when people say ‘Why won’t Washington work?’ ” Durbin said. “This is an illustration where we are doing something that’s never been done in history.”
Durbin told WJBC’s Dan Swaney a one-year vacancy on the Supreme Court would be the longest since the Civil War. That’s how long the late-justice Antonin Scalia’s seat would be vacant if the Senate waited until a new president is sworn in to hold confirmation hearings.
Obama will reportedly be meeting with the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) in hopes of swaying Republicans to back off their attempts to block any nomination to the court following Antonin Scalia’s death.
Durbin said Grassley gives him hope that Republicans will at least allow for a hearing.
“I’m not sure what the meeting at the White House is going to lead to, but Chuck is fair-minded person,” Durbin said. “I just hope he really leans toward basic fairness.”
Durbin said he’s not sure if a report that the Obama administration was considering Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval of Nevada actually came from the president.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
