President Donald Trump named Brett Kavanaugh, a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, as his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court on July 9. Now, as a political fight ensues over the pick, healthcare could be one of the issues at the forefront for Democrats, according to The Hill.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., will try to focus on access to healthcare, specifically as it pertains to women's reproductive rights, during the political Supreme Court fight and will attempt to persuade certain colleagues to vote against confirming Mr. Kavanaugh, the report states. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska are among those on his radar. Both senators joined Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., last year in voting against Republican ACA repeal efforts. Ms. Collins, along with various medical groups, has also called on the U.S. Department of Justice to reconsider its decision not to defend key ACA provisions, including guaranteed coverage of pre-existing conditions, The Hill reports.
"Healthcare, above all else, at the moment appears to be the key issue," Nan Aron, the president of liberal advocacy group Alliance for Justice, told the publication, noting a lawsuit filed in February against the health law challenging such provisions.
"That's going to go up to the [nation's highest] court and that's huge," she continued. "Every Democrat voted against repeal of the ACA."
Mr. Schumer has also identified abortion rights as a key issue in the political battle over President Trump's nomination of Mr. Kavanaugh.
Read The Hill's full report here.
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