Minnesota Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) signed on to a bill that would expand the Supreme Court. Smith announced her decision Wednesday on Twitter, where she wrote, “Announcing I’m the first co-sponsor of Senator Markey’s bill to expand the Supreme Court.” Smith said, “It’s time.”
It’s time.
Announcing I’m the first co-sponsor of @SenMarkey’s bill to expand the Supreme Court. Let’s restore balance to the Judiciary and eliminate the filibuster.
— Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) September 28, 2021
Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) said, “Republicans stole the Court’s majority, with Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation completing their crime spree. Of all the damage Donald Trump did to our democracy, this stands as one of his greatest travesties.”
Smith said she wants to “restore balance” to the Supreme Court.
In a press release announcing her decision, Smith wrote, “Republicans have been working to politicize the U.S. Supreme Court for forty years, with the help of dark money and the Federalist Society. With Donald Trump’s help, they stole two seats, ensuring an ultra-conservative Court that is drastically out of step with the American people.”
Smith was angered by the justices’ decision regarding the Texas abortion law and said that it was the “latest demonstration” of how the Supreme Court has “become dangerously unmoored from any reasonable principles of legal analysis.”
“Allowing Texas’ extreme ban on abortion to stand is just the latest demonstration that much of the current Court has become dangerously unmoored from any reasonable principles of legal analysis,” Smith said.
She added, “We need to abolish the filibuster and reform and expand the Court. We have to pass The Judiciary Act to restore the U.S. Supreme Court back to reflecting our nation’s principles and core beliefs.”
Markey accused Republicans of undermining the legitimacy of the Supreme Court, saying they have “politicized” it.
He wrote, “Senate Republicans have politicized the Supreme Court, undermined its legitimacy, and threatened the rights of millions of Americans, especially people of color, women, and our immigrant communities.”
Markey said, “The Judiciary Act will restore the Court’s balance and public standing and begin to repair the damage done to our judiciary, and we should abolish the filibuster to ensure we can pass it. I am thrilled to have Senator Smith’s partnership and support on this critical legislation.”
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Hayley Tschetter is a reporter with The Minnesota Sun and The Wisconsin Daily Star | Star News Network. Follow Hayley on Twitter or like her Facebook page. Send news tips to [email protected].
Photo “Supreme Court” by PLBechly CC BY-SA 4.0.
