奥巴马和共和党人开会讨论最高法院席位空缺问题 Obama, Republicans to Meet on Supreme Court Vacancy

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美国总统奥巴马星期二将同参议院共和党领袖会面,讨论他计划提名联邦最高法院大法官人选的问题。

大法官斯卡利亚上个月去世后,由9名大法官组成的联邦最高法院出现一个空缺。但是共和党人说,奥巴马不该在他任期最后一年提名终身制大法官,而是应该留给下一任总统。

参议院多数党领袖麦康奈尔和司法委员会主席格拉斯利在前往白宫会晤奥巴马之前表示,他们准备重申这一主张。

美国副总统拜登、参议院少数党领袖里德以及莱希参议员将与奥巴马总统一起参加会面。

白宫发言人欧内斯特星期一说,奥巴马总统愿意展开讨论,但是共和党的立场“让他很难与之进行建设性交流”。他说,联邦最高法院正受到“公然政治化”的威胁。

U.S. President Barack Obama is hosting Senate Republican leaders Tuesday to discuss his planned appointment to the Supreme Court.

The nine-member court has an opening following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia last month.  But Republicans have said Obama should not make an appointment to the lifetime position in his final year in office, instead leaving that to whomever is the next president.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said ahead of the White House meeting they intend to reiterate that message.

Obama will be joined by fellow Democrats Vice President Joe Biden, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and Senator Patrick Leahy.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Monday the president is open to discussion, but that the Republican position "makes it hard for him to engage constructively."  He said the court is at risk of being "blatantly politicized."