Now that President Trump has nominated appellate Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, Democrats find themselves with limited powers to stop her confirmation. Instead they are focusing on the impact they believe her confirmation could have on the health care for Americans. 

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer summed up the argument on Twitter: “The American people should make no mistake: A vote by any Senator for Judge Amy Coney Barrett is a vote to eliminate health care for millions in the middle (of) the COVID-19 pandemic. Democrats are fighting for Americans’ health care.”

With a case involving the Affordable Care Act slated to come before the Supreme Court shortly after the election, Barrett’s confirmation could give conservatives the votes to gut President Obama’s signature law.

According to a letter Schumer sent to his Senate colleagues, “All the data show that with COVID raging, the number one priority for the American people is health care — its affordability, accessibility and quality,”  Schumer wrote in the note obtained by POLITICO. “We must focus like a laser on health care because Judge Barrett’s record is so clear on this issue.”

Based on the current schedule as spelled out by Senate Republicans, the Judiciary Committee will convene hearings October 12 and approve Barrett by October 22, setting up a vote by the full Senate by the end of October.