Leahy to serve as ranking member of Senate Appropriations

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., is leaving his leadership post on Senate Judiciary to become the ranking member of Senate Appropriations.

As the Democratic leader on Judiciary, Leahy had backed President Barack Obama’s pick, Merrick Garland, to replace U.S. Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia who died in February. Republicans in Congress blocked hearings for Garland’s nomination, insisting that a new president should choose the next justice. With the election of Donald Trump, the future of Garland’s nomination is now in doubt.

Leahy, a former prosecutor, said in a statement that he believes that he can do more to advocate for the interests of Vermonters as ranking member of Senate Appropriations.

The senior senator says he did not take the decision to shift leadership positions lightly, but he believes Vermonters need a front and center seat on the Appropriations Committee.

Read more: http://vtdigger.org/2016/11/16/leahy-serve-ranking-member-senate-appropriations/