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Pennsylvania
Related: About this forumSen. Bob Casey will vote "no" for Gorsuch - Pgh Post Gazette
WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Bob Casey has joined the chorus of Democrats opposing Judge Neil Gorsuchs nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Pennsylvania Democrat announced his decision to vote no, citing Judge Gorsuchs hostility toward the executive branch and his rigid and restrictive judicial philosophy.
After considering his nomination seriously and without pre-judgement, and mindful of the awesome responsibility of passing judgement on nominees to the highest court in the nation, I do not believe Judge Gorsuchs judicial approach will ensure fairness for workers and families in Pennsylvania, Casey said in a lengthy explanatory essay posted to the Internet. We cannot demand perfection from Supreme Court justices. But we can demand a constant commitment to fairness, to protecting all Americans regardless of power or wealth, to that guiding creed: equal justice under law. I have concluded that Judge Gorsuch is not the right choice to fulfill this commitment. I will not support his nomination.
Casey characterized Gorsuchs judicial philosophy as right of Antonin Scalias, saying it employs the narrowest possible reading of federal law and exercises extreme skepticism, even hostility, toward executive branch agencies. He said Gorsuch argued judges should restrict the ability of such agencies to do their work on behalf of the American people - Indeed, even Justice Scalia, a conservative ideological stalwart whom Judge Gorsuch has praised effusively, would not even go this far.
Judge Gorsuch opinions often reflect a commitment to satisfy his judicial philosophy more than to grapple with the complex circumstances faced by ordinary Americans, Casey said. Disproportionately, powerful interests are the beneficiaries and ordinary Americans the losers of this approach.
While in the minority, Democrats can filibuster the nomination. If they do, Republicans are threatening to employ the so-called nuclear option, which would change Senate rules so that justices can be approved by a simple majority rather than 60 votes under current rules.
Mr. Casey said that would be a bad move.
When youre given the kind of power that only nine people in our Republic have, I think it should be a much higher threshold for confirmation than 50 votes, he said. I would hope Republicans would not go in the direction of a rule change on the Supreme Court. It would be really bad for our country.
Washington Bureau Chief Tracie Mauriello: [email protected], 703-996-9292 or on Twitter @pgPoliTweets.
First Published March 23, 2017, 10:15am
Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2017/03/23/Bob-Casey-vote-Neil-Gorsuch-confirmation-hearing-views/stories/201703230147/
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Sen. Bob Casey will vote "no" for Gorsuch - Pgh Post Gazette (Original Post)
FakeNoose
Mar 2017
OP
femmocrat
(28,394 posts)1. Thank you, Sen. Casey!
Casey has been a real stalwart as of late.
orangecrush
(19,237 posts)2. Bob listens
To his constituents.