U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer will reportedly introduce a resolution to temporarily replace Senator Dianne Feinstein on the Senate Judiciary Committee. The New York Congressman hopes the resolution will gain support from both the Democratic Party and Republican Party.
“I spoke to Sen. Feinstein just a few days ago. She believes she will return soon. She’s very hopeful of that and so am I,” Schumer said, according to The Hill.
“We think the Republicans should allow a temporary replacement until she returns.”
Senator Dianne Feinstein of California has not appeared on Capitol Hill since she was diagnosed with shingles more than a month ago. After a brief stay in the hospital, she was released and appears to be on the road to recovery.
“I want to thank everyone for the well wishes and the hospital staff for providing excellent care,” Feinstein tweeted last month.
“I’m recovering at home now while I continue receiving treatment and look forward to returning to the Senate as soon as possible.”
Feinstein has supported calls for Schumer to install a temporary replacement on her behalf. However, members of the Republican party have pushed back against the idea. Feinstein is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and has a role in approving or denying the President’s judicial nominees before they hit the House Floor.
“I will not go along with Chuck Schumer’s plan to replace Sen. Feinstein on the Judiciary Committee and pack the court with activist judges,” Senator Marsha Blackburn said, according to The Hill.
Without Feinstein, the Senate Judiciary Committee is made up of 10 members from each party. Implementing another Democrat would give the party control over the committee yet again. Schumer did not provide a date for when he would introduce the resolution, but he did say that it would happen “sometime this week.”
