Three GOP senators say they'll vote against Kagan
WASHINGTON
Kagan, 50, has been chosen by President Barack Obama as the
replacement for retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. The Senate
Judiciary Committee on Thursday wrapped up her four-day
confirmation hearing, and has scheduled a vote on her nomination on
July 13.
The committee cannot stop a Supreme Court nomination from
getting a vote on the Senate floor. It will only be voting on
whether she will get a favorable or unfavorable recommendation. The
committee could also choose not to make a recommendation.
One member of the committee, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, announced
Friday that he would be voting against Kagan, despite his approval
of her as solicitor general last year.
Hatch said a Supreme Court nominee needs "both legal experience
and, more importantly, the appropriate judicial philosophy."
"General Kagan regrettably does not meet this standard," Hatch
said.
Hatch's announcement was soon followed by similar statements
from McConnell and GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
McConnell has been one of the lead opponents against the major
campaign finance law over the last decade. Kagan, as solicitor
general, unsuccessfully argued for part of that law front of the
Supreme Court earlier this year.
"She refused to repudiate her alarming position in the Supreme
Court that the federal government can ban core political speech if
it dislikes the speaker, including speech with a long and venerable
history in our country, like political pamphlets," said McConnell,
R-Ky. "I do not have confidence that if she were confirmed to a
lifetime position on the Supreme Court she would suddenly constrain
the ardent political advocacy that has marked much of her adult
life."
Murkowski said Kagan also did not give Americans any idea how
she will approach "difficult cases" as a justice at her
confirmation hearing.
GOP Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma also has said he will oppose
Kagan's confirmation, although she is expected to be approved by
the full Senate.