Senate Starts Debate Over Kagan Confirmation

The Senate began the debate over Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan’s confirmation Tuesday.

While Kagan will almost surely be approved by the upper-chamber, she has faced some heated last minute opposition. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) announced last week that he will go against his party by voting against the current Solicitor General and on Monday Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to each of his colleagues outlining the case against her confirmation.

“Ms. Kagan’s lack of legal experience should be of significant concern to any Senator. She has less real legal experience than any Supreme Court nominee in 50 years,” Sessions wrote.

The Alabama Republican also cited Kagan’s positions on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and reproductive issues as evidence that Kagan is a “legal progressive.”

Several Republicans have announced that they will cross the aisle to support Kagan, including Olympia Snowe (R-Me.), Susan Collins (R-Me.), Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Lugar (R-Ind.).

A vote is expected by the end of the week, before the Senate leaves for the August recess.

Sessions Delays Kagan Decision

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Al.), the Senate Judiciary Committee’s ranking Republican, moved Tuesday to postpone the committee’s vote on Supreme Court Justice nominee Elena Kagan’s confirmation.

“I think we’re moving this nomination in a very expeditious manner,” Sessions said Tuesday. “I will ask that we put the nomination over for one week.”

Session’s call for more time invokes the authority any committee member has to delay a vote by one week. The Alabama Republican noted that he believed his request was a responsible one.

“I think for a Supreme Court nomination, in particular, that’s appropriate,” Sessions said.

The Judiciary Committee will meet next Tuesday. The panel, which is made up of 12 Democrats and 7 Republicans, will likely support advancing Kagan’s nomination on to full-Senate approval.