Senators should either vote on high court nominee or resign

By Cesar Lumba, Las Vegas

Monday, Feb. 22, 2016 | 2 a.m.

In the 50-plus years that I have lived in the U.S., every Supreme Court vacancy has been filled by the sitting president. No exceptions. This year, the Republican-controlled Senate led by Sen. Mitch McConnell has informed President Barack Obama that if he submits a candidate for the Supreme Court vacancy, that candidate will not be acted upon by the Senate.

The Constitution cannot be more clear that the president’s job is to submit to the Senate his choice for Supreme Court justice. It is also clear that the Senate is supposed to act on the president’s choice.

But the Republican senators are refusing to act on any appointment the president makes.

McConnell and other Republican senators who are defying the president must be pressured to resign from the Senate. If they are unwilling to do their duty as required by the Constitution, they should not be in the Senate. McConnell, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Chuck Grassley — they all say they are unwilling to do their constitutional duty. That’s a complete and shameless dereliction of duty.