WASHINGTON – Illinois Republican voters lent their support overwhelmingly to U.S. Senator Mark Kirk in Tuesday's GOP primary. Wednesday morning, Kirk's office sent out a message in response to President Obama's nomination for Supreme Court – Judge Merrick Garland.
While not clearly defying his U.S. Senate leadership which says they are not going to hold hearings to consider Garland's nomination, Kirk made it clear that he sees the Senate's role to provide advice and consent to be "important," and criticized partisan "political rancor":
“When I climbed the 42 steps of the U.S. Capitol and returned to the Senate following my stroke, I reaffirmed my commitment to represent the people of Illinois in an independent and thoughtful manner, free from the partisanship and political rancor that too often consumes Washington," Kirk said in the statement.
"The Senate’s constitutionally defined role to provide advice and consent is as important as the president’s role in proposing a nominee, and I will assess Judge Merrick Garland based on his record and qualifications."
