April, 06 2017, 02:45pm EDT
NARAL Statement on GOP Decision to Blow Up the Senate for Donald Trump
Ilyse Hogue, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America, released the following statement in response to Senate Republicans' decision to blow up the Senate for President Donald Trump. Seven in 10 Americans strongly object to Republican attempts to use political tactics to strong-arm Trump's nominee through the confirmation process:
"Through this entire nomination process, Leader McConnell and the GOP knew that they didn't have the American people on their side. With today's rules change vote, they proved they do not care.
WASHINGTON
Ilyse Hogue, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America, released the following statement in response to Senate Republicans' decision to blow up the Senate for President Donald Trump. Seven in 10 Americans strongly object to Republican attempts to use political tactics to strong-arm Trump's nominee through the confirmation process:
"Through this entire nomination process, Leader McConnell and the GOP knew that they didn't have the American people on their side. With today's rules change vote, they proved they do not care.
"For the last weeks and months, a new, united movement grew: advocates from all walks of life--women, LGBTQ people, workers, and more--called, rallied, and raised their voices in opposition to a nominee who threatens our rights and our futures. Their calls for justice and for representation fell on the deaf ears of Senate Republicans bound and determined to install Neil Gorsuch on the highest court of the land by any means necessary.
"Let's be clear: breaking the Senate was a decision by Republicans and Republicans alone, and we will be sure that voters do not forget it.
"Yet Democratic Senators, hearing the voices of their constituents, heard the pleas of the American people and voted to oppose Neil Gorsuch by the traditional 60-vote threshold. Democrats gave voice to the shared fear that appointing the nominee of a President under investigation by the FBI risks the legitimacy of our Supreme Court and of our democracy. Again, Democratic calls for cooperation and unity--to put country over party--were loudly rejected by a Republican majority hell bent on finishing an unconstitutional attack that started almost two years ago when they denied Merrick Garland a hearing, let alone a vote.
"History will not look kindly upon these senators, when a of lack of courage and thirst for power led the GOP to destroy 200 years of Senate tradition and forever degrade our democracy. The country will never forget that these Republicans blindly enabled a reckless president under gathering clouds of investigation to steal a seat on the Supreme Court and enshrine his dangerous agenda for a lifetime."
NARAL Pro-Choice America led the People's Defense campaign, a massive grassroots effort to defeat Judge Neil Gorsuch's nomination to the Supreme Court. Joining the campaign are Indivisible, American Federation of Teachers, Center for American Progress Action Fund, CREDO Action, Demos, Emily's List, End Citizens United, EveryVoice, MoveOn.org Civic Action, People for the American Way, Planned Parenthood, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Service Employees International Union, Stand Up America, and the Working Families Party.
For over 50 years, Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America) has fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom at the federal and state levels—including access to abortion care, birth control, pregnancy and post-partum care, and paid family leave—for everybody. Reproductive Freedom for All is powered by its more than 4 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 8 in 10 Americans who support legal abortion.
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