Senate Republicans will look to push Judge Neil Gorsuch’s nomination through the Senate this week, a dramatic turnaround after holding the Supreme Court seat open for over a year.
Ohio residents in opposition to the Gorsuch nomination are now facing a fast-approaching deadline to voice their concerns.
Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown has indicated that he will vote against Gorsuch’s nomination. Brown said that during Gorsuch’s time on the bench, the judge has demonstrated his belief that “corporations have more rights than individuals,” especially when it comes to the environment and campaign finance.
“It’s very out of the mainstream of what this country stands for,” Brown said.
Citing the American Bar Association’s “well qualified” rating on Gorsuch, Republican Sen. Rob Portman said he would vote for Gorsuch to be confirmed. He demanded “an up-or-down vote. He deserves that. If a nominee this qualified can’t get an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor it is not clear to me who could.”
However, Portman’s passionate plea for a fair vote on a “well qualified” candidate was missing for over a year, as Garland — President Barack Obama’s nominee — also received the highest ABA rating but did not get the benefit of a fair vote from Senate Republicans.
Planned Parenthood has taken a strong stance against Gorsuch and “his history of interfering with reproductive rights and health, including access to birth control.” Planned Parenthood has provided a sample script for those seeking to call their senators to oppose the Gorsuch nomination:
Hi, my name is ____________ and I live in _____________.
I’m calling to ask my senator to vote NO on Judge Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.
I’m extremely alarmed by Judge Gorsuch’s history of interfering with reproductive rights, including access to birth control and care at Planned Parenthood. Gorsuch has ruled in favor of the idea that corporations are people and a woman’s employer should be able to decide whether or not she has access to birth control. I do not trust him to uphold my fundamental rights, including the right to access abortion.
I’m counting on my senator to do the right thing and vote no on his nomination.
Thank you for your time.
[Name]
The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to advance Gorsuch’s nomination to the full Senate on Monday. A final vote on Gorsuch could also come this week.
For more detailed sample scripts opposing Gorsuch, visit IndivisibleGuide.com.
Click here for contact information to voice your concerns to both of Ohio’s senators.
