McConnell rules out Senate hearing for Obama court pick

WASHINGTON (AP) — Majority Leader Mitch McConnell emphatically ruled out any Senate action on whoever President Barack Obama nominates to fill the Supreme Court vacancy, an extraordinary step that escalated the partisan election-year struggle over replacing the late Antonin Scalia. Democrats promised unremitting pressure on Republicans to back down or face the consequences in November's voting. After winning unanimous public backing from the 11 Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee, McC

WASHINGTON (AP) — Majority Leader Mitch McConnell emphatically ruled out any Senate action on whoever President Barack Obama nominates to fill the Supreme Court vacancy, an extraordinary step that escalated the partisan election-year struggle over replacing the late Antonin Scalia. Democrats promised unremitting pressure on Republicans to back down or face the consequences in November's voting. After winning unanimous public backing from the 11 Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee, McC…