Biden is acting very aggressively now that he is out of the 2024 race.
On Monday, Republicans were stunned by the proposed reforms to the Supreme Court advocated by President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, calling them “outrageous” and a “threat to democracy.” They drew parallels between these proposals and the judicial overhauls that preceded the rise of socialist regimes, such as Venezuela under Hugo Chavez.
The Biden-Harris plan includes several significant changes: imposing an 18-year term limit on Supreme Court justices, requiring justices to disclose gifts, avoid political activities, and recuse themselves in cases of personal or spousal conflicts, as well as introducing a constitutional amendment to limit presidential immunity.
Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) condemned the proposals in a video on social media, stating that such reforms “undermine the very system that exemplifies American exceptionalism.” She warned that altering the Supreme Court would strike at the core of the American system of governance.
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the proposed changes are driven by political motivations rather than genuine concerns. He highlighted the historical dangers of attempting to alter foundational institutions for political gain.
Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) likened the Biden-Harris proposals to the actions of Hugo Chavez, who restructured Venezuela’s Supreme Court to consolidate his power in the late 1990s. Gimenez emphasized that such changes can lead to the suppression of political opposition and a threat to democratic values, drawing a parallel to the current situation in Venezuela where opposition leaders face severe legal obstacles.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) supported her Florida colleagues’ views, stating that the proposed reforms resemble Chavez’s tactics of packing the court to favor his administration. She warned that such moves could jeopardize American democracy and undermine the nation’s judicial system.
Despite these strong objections, the Biden administration’s reform proposals face significant obstacles. With a divided Congress, it is unlikely that the proposed changes will gain traction in the remaining months of Biden’s term. The proposed constitutional amendment, which aims to limit presidential immunity, faces an even steeper path, requiring extensive support from both Congress and state legislatures.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) labeled the proposed reforms as “dead on arrival” in the House. He argued that these proposals threaten to destabilize the balance of power and erode public trust in the judiciary. Johnson criticized the Biden-Harris administration for seeking to undermine the Supreme Court simply because they disagree with recent rulings, warning that such efforts will face strong resistance from the Republican-led House.
