Democrats to block end-of-year judges package
By Alexander Bolton and Jordain Carney - 12/19/18 12:40 PM EST
Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.), facing pressure from left wing groups, will not agree to a customary year-end package of judicial nominees, according to a Senate Democratic aide.
Schumer and his Democratic colleagues are in no mood to agree to a year-end deal after a federal judge in Texas struck down the entire Affordable Care Act last week, including protections for people with pre-existing conditions.
Senate Democrats are also furious at Republicans for not respecting the Senate’s blue-slip tradition, which gives both senators from a judicial nominee’s home state power to hold up his or her nomination.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) advanced judicial nominees this year even though home-state Democratic senators withheld blue slips for those nominees.
Schumer has come under heavy pressure from liberal activists not to agree to such a deal.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/422085-democrats-to-block-end-of-year-judges-package