Area U.S. Senators would back Trump’s Supreme Court nominee this year

(AP) Republican Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas supports replacing the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on U.S. Supreme Court this year. Roberts tweeted Monday that the Senate has an obligation under the U.S. Constitution to fill high court vacancies.

Fellow Kansas Republican Sen. Jerry Moran already has said he supports Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s plan to move head with consideration of a nominee from President Donald Trump.

Missouri U.S. Senator Josh Hawley also supports the notion. He says the U.S. Supreme Court was a central issue in the 2018 election, “To say because they lost elections, that now that they will break all of our constitutional norms and standards, they’ll pack courts, they’ll conduct impeachment hearings to stop the president from carrying forward his constitutionally-authorized privileges and responsibilities – that’s insane,” says Hawley. “This is the same party that looks the other way while rioters and looters burn down our towns. Now the Democrats are saying they’ll burn down the Constitution.” Hawley says the Senate could wrap up the confirmation process in one week to less than three weeks.

Missouri U.S. Senator Roy Blunt says he would find it foolish for President Trump to not try to fill the Supreme Court vacancy.

Trump said Monday that he plans to nominate a replacement for the late liberal justice by the end of the week. Many Democrats have argued that the vacancy shouldn’t be filled until next year, after the presidential election and next inauguration.