FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 20, 2017
[email protected]
Today, Senate Republicans ignored the calls of their constituents and voted to confirm Kentucky lawyer and shady anonymous blogger John Bush to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue issued the following statement in response:
“When Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was pressed on what he would tell voters after healthcare collapsed, he said he would tell them we ‘have’ the Supreme Court. President Trump, Majority Leader McConnell and the GOP believe that if they own the courts, they own the future. Today, Republicans took their crusade one step forward by confirming a shady, anonymous blogger with regressive views on fundamental rights for a lifetime appointment on the federal bench. With this vote, these senators shamefully thumbed their noses at their constituents and aligned themselves with a dangerous president to hijack the nation’s court system and use it as a tool to advance their dangerous worldview. Anyone who cares about ensuring an impartial judiciary should be disgusted by these senators’ action.
“John Bush’s anonymously published blog posts show that the Trump administration handpicked him to appease fringe elements of his base, individuals who share his agenda to roll back the rights of women, the LGBTQ community, and working people. These dangerous views are not in line with the views of the everyday Americans who will be harmed by this lifelong appointment. At the polls in 2018, NARAL’s million-plus members won’t forget that Republican senators shoved through a nominee who so clearly lacks the temperament and judgement needed to serve on our courts.”
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit hears cases from Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee, states in which reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, and progressive values are already under attack. In fact, a case challenging an Ohio law that defunds Planned Parenthood is currently being heard by the Sixth Circuit. Additionally, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee have enacted anti-choice TRAP laws and a mandatory-ultrasound law, which are being challenged and could be appealed to the Sixth circuit.
NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates are dedicated to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom for all Americans. NARAL works to guarantee that every woman has the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion. In recognition of its work defending our constitutional right to choose, Fortune Magazine described NARAL as “one of the top 10 advocacy groups in America.”
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