Sen. Cruz Outlines Five Takeaways From Third Day of Confirmation Hearing for Judge Barrett

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, during the second round of questioning in the Senate Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearing for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) raised five key points summarizing Senate Democrats' view of these proceedings, Judge Barrett, and the Supreme Court more broadly. Watch Sen. Cruz's full discussion here. Excerpts are included below.

WATCH: Sen. Cruz's Full Q&A with Judge Amy Coney Barrett on Day 3 of Senate Judiciary Confirmation Hearing

1) Democrats know Amy Coney Barrett is supremely qualified to serve on the Supreme Court.

"The last three days of hearings have revealed very good news. They have revealed the news that Judge Barrett is going to be confirmed by this committee and by the full Senate. With two full days of questioning, we've seen that our Democratic colleagues have very few questions actually to raise about Judge Barrett's qualifications. Very little of the time we've spent in here has concerned her record as a judge, her 20 years as a respected scholar. Instead, much of this hearing has focused on political attacks directed at President Trump."

2) Democrats have turned to scare tactics and fear mongering instead of facts.

"Every member of the Senate agrees we're going to protect pre-existing conditions, and I would note that not a one of the Democratic senators who raised that point have addressed the very real and catastrophic failures under Obamacare. [...] The average family's premiums have risen more than $7,967 per year on average. That is catastrophic that millions of Americans can't afford health care. It is a catastrophic failure of Obamacare. And none of that has anything to do with Judge Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court. That is a very good argument for members of the Senate to be having. And yes, we should be protecting pre-existing conditions and expanding competition, expanding options, and lowering premiums. This body will continue to debate that. But Judge Barrett will not be the decision maker on what the appropriate approach to healthcare is as a policy matter."

3) Democrats are hiding the truth about "dark money."

"The Democratic ‘dark money' efforts dwarf the Republican dark money efforts which is why without a twinge of hypocrisy Democratic members make this charge repeatedly. And in fact I will point to one specific example, which is a judge, Judge John J. Jack McConnell who is a judge in the state of Rhode Island. [...] He used to be the treasurer of the Rhode Island Democratic Party and a director of the Rhode Island branch of Planned Parenthood. Well how did Mr. McConnell become a judge? According to CQ Roll Call, he contributed about $500,000 to Democratic political committees before becoming a judge. [...] He donated $12,600 to Senator Whitehouse. He hosted a fundraiser for Senator Whitehouse at his home in Providence in 2006. Judge McConnell's wife gave another $250,000 to candidates and causes so that's $750,000. And now, Judge McConnell is a judge after Senator Whitehouse vigorously led the fight to get him appointed a judge."

4) Democrats forget that it is Congress' job to make law, not the judiciary's.

"An issue that I am deeply passionate about is school choice. I think school choice is the civil rights issue of the next century. But I also think the right arena to fight for school choice is right here in the United States Senate. The right arena to fight for school choice is in the state legislatures. It is in the politically accountable elected legislatures. So, do I want to see a federal court issue an order mandating school choice across the country? It might be simpler if I could just convince five justices to order every jurisdiction in America, ‘You must have school choice.' It would be a lot easier than trying to convince 51 or 60 Senators [and] trying to convince the House.[...] It would be much easier if five philosopher kings could just mandate it. But that would not be an appropriate judicial role. And I'm certainly not asking Judge Barrett to issue any ruling. Although I believe that policy is the right policy. It's not a judge's role to mandate."

5) Democrats fully intend to pack the Supreme Court.

"We have seen repeatedly Joe Biden and Kamala Harris refuse to answer whether they would pack the Court. What does it mean to pack the Court? Packing the Court means one very specific thing which is expanding the number of justices to achieve a political outcome. Packing the Court is wrong. It is an abuse of power. I believe, should they win in November, that our Democratic colleagues will pack the Court. I think that's why Joe Biden refuses to answer it, although he did say when asked ‘the voters don't deserve to know' his answer as to whether he'll pack the Court. [...] They are endeavoring to redefine the language to set the framework, to set the predicate, for a partisan assault on the Court."

WATCH: Cruz on Fox Biz Recaps Second Day of Judiciary Hearing for Amy Coney Barrett's SCOTUS Confirmation

Watch Sen. Cruz's opening remarks from the confirmation hearing here and his first round of questioning here. Read about Sen. Cruz's meeting with Judge Amy Coney Barrett here. Learn more about Sen. Cruz's leadership in the efforts to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett here.

WATCH: Exposed: Democrats' Radical Power Plot

###