politics

Sen. Wyden: Naming Scalia's Successor Requires Urgency

By Kimberley Freda (OPB)
Portland, Oregon Feb. 14, 2016 9:41 p.m.

The death of 79-year-old U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia quickly became part of the nation's political conversation Saturday afternoon.

Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden said naming Scalia's successor requires great dignity and urgency.
 
"I'm doing everything I can with respect to discussions that will be handled with the dignity that this position warrants and with the urgency demanded with the vacancy on the Supreme Court," Wyden said.

"I'm sure this is exceptionally painful to the family to see a loved one pass this way," Wyden told OPB.

The senator learned of Scalia's passing while hosting a town hall meeting in Medford.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, has suggested waiting until a new president is elected before filling the vacancy.

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“If there is discussion of waiting for what amounts to a year, that is way outside the mainstream of American government, in terms of how these matters have been handled,” Wyden said.

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