Fellow Conservative:

Good afternoon from Capitol Hill. On Friday, President Trump announced he and the First Lady tested positive for COVID-19. Republican Senators Thom Tillis, Mike Lee, and Ron Johnson have also announced positive tests, as have several White House staff. Both the First Lady and the senators report mild symptoms or no symptoms, and are doing well.

The President has been receiving care at Walter Reed Medical Center, where his doctors say he is responding well to treatment. On Saturday, the president released a video statement, and another one on Sunday. He also took a brief drive to wave to his supporters, which the White House staff say was cleared by his medical team. It is the expectation of his doctors that if he continues to do well, he could be discharged as soon as today.

This is a global pandemic that has impacted millions -- including Members of the House, of the Senate, and now, the president. Our prayers are with all of them, and with all families struggling with this illness.

The positive COVID testing of members of the Senate have led to speculation that the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett may have to be delayed, as Senators Tillis and Lee both serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsay Graham has announced the hearings will take place as scheduled, beginning on October 12. This is entirely appropriate. Hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee have been occurring both in-person and virtually for months. There is no reason to treat this hearing differently.

The Conservative Partnership Institute has launched the Supreme Court War Room to provide rapid response to the liberal attacks against Judge Barrett and give our allies the resources to fight back!

The timing of her confirmation vote on the Senate floor will depend on the physical number of senators who are present. The Senate's rules require a quorum of 51 members present on the Senate floor to conduct business. Unlike the House, the Senate has not instituted the voting that allows one physically present member to cast up to 10 votes on behalf of absent members.

Democrat pundits are openly speculating about Democrat senators' ability to deny Republicans a quorum by not showing up. But they forget the power of the majority leader to compel the presence of absent senators, which gives the Sergeant at Arms the power to "compel" -- and even to arrest -- senators who fail to present themselves.

This power was famously used in 1988 to carry Sen. Bob Packwood (R-Ore.) back into the chamber feet first when Democrats ordered the arrest of absent senators in a filibuster showdown over a Democrat bill on spending in senatorial campaigns. Such a tactic will hopefully not be necessary, but 2020 has not been a year of expected outcomes.

In the meantime, both parties remain far apart on a potential COVID-19 relief bill. Senate Democrats filibustered the last Republican effort in September.

The Senate will cease floor activity through October 19 out of an abundance of caution. The House remains out of session through the election. On Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence and Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris will debate.

The Latest from Around the Conservative Movement

• High profile Democrats openly pine for President Trump's demise
• World Health Organization employees face allegations of sexual assault during the Ebola crisis in Africa. The organization also advised keeping borders open during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• This tech small business owner says it's time to loosen Google's grip on search
• Mary Vought: Democrats should not apply a religious test on Amy Coney Barrett
• Trump's foreign policy will improve if he gets people like Will Ruger and Douglas Macgregor

One More Thing...

I recently testified before the House Judiciary Committee's Antitrust Subcommittee on the growing power of Big Tech. You can read my full statement here, and watch clips of my testimony here.

Sincerely,

Rachel Bovard

Director for Policy

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