Even as they offered condolences to the family of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Missouri and Kansas Republicans vowed over the weekend to push forward on filling the high court vacancy.
Just a day after her death, President Trump on Saturday urged Senate Republicans to move "without delay" to replace Ginsberg and it appeared that he could nominate a successor as early as next week.
Republicans were in lock step with Trump, including Missouri's two senators. On the Kansas side of the border, U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts, who is retiring after his term ends this year, said it's the Senate's "duty" to fill the vacancy.
Moran said in his weekly newsletter: "I support the decision to hold a vote on President Trump’s nominee and when the nominee is announced, I will review that person’s judicial career and commitment to upholding the Constitution and rule of law."
Here is my statement on the U.S. Senate’s obligation the fill the #SCOTUS vacancy left by the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: “It is the U.S. Senate’s constitutional duty to fill vacancies on the Supreme Court of the United States, and I support the decision to do so.”
— Senator Pat Roberts (@SenPatRoberts) September 21, 2020
Another GOP congressman, U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, who hopes to win the Senate this year, also expressed support for filling the seat. He said during a Saturday debate in Topeka that he supports Trump's move to nominate a high court candidate and get a conservative seated soon.
"I'm encouraging the president to bring this nomination forth. I'm encouraging the Senate to act on it," Marshall said. "Look, this is why this election is so important. We need senators who are going to confirm conservative, constitutionalist, pro-life judges."
His Democratic opponent, Kansas state Sen. Barbara Bollier shot back, saying the job of confirming judges for a lifelong post on the nation's highest court is a grave responsibility.
"It shouldn't be politicized," she said. "The leaders who are elected in November are who should be voting and confirming who will be filling our vacancies on the Supreme Court."
The Kansas News Service's Scott Canon contributed to this report.
