Congressman Adam Kinzinger says SCOTUS nomination being handled properly

MCNABB – During a stop at McNabb Fire Department, Congressman Adam Kinzinger took a few minutes to share his thoughts about the SCOTUS nomination process, a possible coronavirus stimulus, and a recent tweet from President Donald Trump.

Kinzinger, R-Channahon, when asked his thoughts on the Supreme Court nomination and whether he believed it was being handled properly, answered in the affirmative.

"So the bottom line is [that] the president has a right to nominate, and the Senate has a right to approve a justice," Kinzinger said Tuesday. "I hope it will be a fair hearing for all sides, and I hope the will of the Senate will be heard."

"I do believe it should be done now," he said.

As for a possible COVID-19 stimulus package? Kinzinger is hopeful it will happen but has no illusions that it will happen in the lead up to the election.

"Of course the 'corona crystal ball' changes every day," he said. "There's a possibility of a breakthrough, but it's probably more likely to happen after the election.

"Soon after the election," he said.

Kinzinger said he disapproves of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's bill and hopes the sides can come together to pass something sooner rather than later. He recently voted against the $2.2 trillion legislative amendment on H.R. 925.

"The negotiations are between the White House, so primarily [Treasurer Steve] Mnuchin and [Senate President Mitch] McConnell and Pelosi so we wait to see if they can come to a deal."

Despite criticism from some corners, the idea that the focus now should be on stimulus package talks and not the SCOTUS hearings, Kinzinger doesn't agree.

"You can walk and chew gum right?" he quipped. "They can do the hearings and still litigate coronavirus."

As for his response to President Trump's recent tweet about Illinois, where the president stated, "Illinois has no place to go. Sad, isn't it? Vote Trump!"

Kinzinger said he hadn't seen the tweet in question.

"Illinois is a great place to live and has a lot going for it," he said. "But it's been mismanaged for a long time. You have an administration now that wants to raise taxes, including changing the constitution and has a budget shortfall – Illinois deserves better."

When pressed, he admitted there are a few tweets of the president's he wouldn't have tweeted himself, but he does understand the sentiment that Illinois deserves better.