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Senate Dems opposing Trump court pick grows with Stabenow

Posted at 11:57 AM, Mar 28, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-28 11:57:31-04

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan is joining the growing list of Senate Democrats opposing President Donald Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court.

In a statement Tuesday, Stabenow said she can’t support Judge Neil Gorsuch, complaining about his “long record of siding with special interests and institutions instead of hard-working Americans.”

So far, 19 Democrats have announced their opposition, raising the prospects of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell changing Senate rules to get Gorsuch confirmed.

Republicans hold a 52-48 majority. It takes 60 votes to clear parliamentary hurdles and set up an up-or-down vote on a Supreme Court nominee.

McConnell could push for a rule change to win approval of the nominee with a simple majority in the 100-member Senate. The Kentucky Republican wants to get Gorsuch confirmed before a mid-April recess.