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Amodei, Heller Say Obama Should Nominate SCOTUS Justice

Nevada Republican Rep. Mark Amodei says the U.S. Senate should hold confirmation hearings and vote up or down anyone President Obama nominates for the Supreme Court.

Amodei said Wednesday the only reason anyone could have for not wanting to cast such a vote is that they don't want their constituents to know how they stand on an issue.

Meanwhile, Nevada Sen. Dean Heller has become the first Republican senator to break with his party's leader and say President Barack Obama should nominate a replacement for the late Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court.

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Heller said Wednesday that Nevadans "should have a voice" in selecting a new justice.

Just hours after Scalia's death Saturday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Obama should not name a nominee and leave that for whoever is elected president in November. Numerous GOP senators have backed McConnell on that, though some have not ruled out hearings and a vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Heller said he doesn't expect an Obama nominee to be approved by the GOP-run Senate.

Politically, Nevada is a closely divided state. Heller has at times taken moderate stances on issues.