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Democrat “Squad” lawmakers call for expansion of Supreme Court

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and other Democratic “Squad” lawmakers called for an expansion of the Supreme Court Monday, immediately after conservative Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in as the newest SCOTUS Justice, the Hill reports. The Republican move to swiftly confirm Barrett following the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg last month has caused outrage among Democrats, who claim the Republican Party has applied double standards to the confirmation process.

Shortly after the deeply divided 52-48 Senate vote, Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter:

“Expand the court.” In a further tweet, Ocasio-Cortez added: “Republicans do this because they don’t believe Dems have the stones to play hardball like they do. And for a long time they’ve been correct. But do not let them bully the public into thinking their bulldozing is normal but a response isn’t.”

Ocasio-Cortez’ fellow “squad member” Democratic Rep.  Ilhan Omar  (Minn.) retweeted her colleague’s message and added: “Remember that Republicans have lost 6 of the last 7 popular votes, but have appointed 6 of the last 9 justices,” she wrote. “By expanding the court we fix this broken system and have the court better represent the values of the American people.”

Concurring, squad member Rep.Rashida Tlaib of Michigan tweeted: “We are going to take back the White House & Senate next week with a resounding mandate from the people to fight back against Trump’s illegitimately stacked judiciary. We must expand the Court if we’re serious about the transformational change the people are crying out for.”

In March 2016 the Republican senate majority refused to hold confirmation hearings for Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland, on the grounds that the general election was just eight months away. This year, however, the Republican senate held hearings for Barret a few weeks before the November 3 election. The addition of more justices to the Supreme Court has gained increasing support among Democrats.