Updated April 15, 2016 at 3:30 p.m. to include a link to the Q&A and video interview.

Confirming a U.S. Supreme Court Justice would be best delayed until the next president takes office, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said while addressing staff at the Community Impact Newspaper headquarters, 16225 Impact Way, Pflugerville, April 1. He said pursuing the confirmation during the nine months left in the current administration would be adversarial and likely slow down work on items on which there is consensus between the parties.

Cornyn said while the decision to withhold the confirmation of a presidential nominee to the Supreme Court is controversial, it is not unprecedented.

“It’s an unfortunate development, but it’s kind of where we are,” Cornyn said. “I don’t believe that...it’s really about [Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland] so much as the impact the Supreme Court [has] on our society and the fact that the next justice will affect the balance of power on the Supreme Court for the next generation.”

Among the issues Cornyn discussed were the federal minimum wage, a decision Cornyn would prefer to see rest in state control; higher education and whether government should play a role in easing student loan debt; and his 2008 vote supporting the federal bailout of major financial institutions.

"I wouldn't change the vote I made back then," Cornyn said, reflecting on his vote for the federal bailout. "I hope I never have to vote for something like that again."