Supreme Court vacancy - Let the people decide

Greetings Senator,

As Republicans told us early and often in 2016, the people should decide on the Supreme Court vacancy. On November 8th, by a greater than 2.8 million vote margin, "the people" decided they wanted a Democrat to fill that vacancy. It’s important to note that not a single Republican said "the Electoral College" should decide the vacancy.

Senator Schumer showed recently (re-sent Mitch McConnell's letter back to him about the required prerequisites for hearings on presidential nominees) that holding Republicans accountable to their own words can be highly effective.

I urge you to stand with Senator Jeff Merkley when he says that he will filibuster any pick that is not Merrick Garland.

And thus, I expect my Democratic Senator(s) to hold the Republicans to their statements, and only allow a Democratic nominee to rise to the Supreme Court. Merrick Garland would be just fine. But if not him, then take Senator Ted Cruz at his word "... there is long historical precedent for a Supreme Court with fewer justices ...". And as many Republicans below noted, it is within the Senate’s Constitutional rights to withhold confirmation.

I am not a "never Trump" ideologue. Presidential nominations that have some minimal qualification, and don't espouse to destroy the agency they would be placed in charge of are legitimate times to support this President. Areas such as infrastructure investment are obviously also.

But please note that I expect the Democrats in the Senate, and especially those that represent me, to oppose a Trump Supreme Court nominee in every possible way.

Best Regards, (and Thank You! for your service!)

2/13/16 Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) "The American people‎ should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice."

2/14/16 Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) “This next election needs to be a referendum on the Court. The people need to decide.” and “STEPHANOPOULOS: But does that mean -- does that mean that you're going to filibuster anyone -- anyone that President Obama nominates? CRUZ: Absolutely. This should be a decision for the people, George.”

2/17/16 Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) "The chances of approving a new nominee are slim, but Nevadans should have a voice in the process."

2/18/16 Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) “It is today the American people, rather than a lame-duck president whose priorities and policies they just rejected in the most-recent national election, who should be afforded the opportunity to replace Justice Scalia.” and “Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution grants the Senate the power to provide, or as the case may be, withhold its consent.”

2/18/16 Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) "Let the American people decide rather than lame-duck president and, quite honestly, possibly a lame-duck Republican Senate." and “But not acting is also acting. It's also fulfilling that consent portion of our advise-and-consent.”

2/23/16 Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Michael Lee (R-UT), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), David Vitter (R-LA), David Perdue (R-GA), Thom Tillis (R-NC) “… we wish to inform you of our intention to exercise our constitutional authority to withhold consent on any nominee to the Supreme Court submitted by this President to fill Justice Scalia’s vacancy. Because our decision is based on constitutional principle and born of a necessity to protect the will of the American people ...”

2/26/16 Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) "Our decision is based on the principle that in our American system of representative government the people should be empowered to weigh in on such a consequential decision, the direction of the Supreme Court." and “...my Republican colleagues and I will exercise our constitutional authority to withhold consent on a Supreme Court nominee.”

3/10/16 Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) "The People should determine what kind of Supreme Court they wish to have." and “Indeed, the Senate retains complete discretion with respect to whether it should even consider – much less accept or reject – presidential nominees.” and “Neither does the prospect of a temporary eight-member Court raise concern.” and “But the Senate is equally entitled to withhold consent and protect the People’s voice.”

3/10/16 Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) "I think that we ought to feel comfortable, as the Senator from Wyoming just said, in letting the people decide."

3/16/16 Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) “… so of course the American people should have a say in the Court’s direction.” and “… it is the Senate’s constitutional right to act as a check on a President and withhold its consent.”

3/16/16 Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) "The American people shouldn't be denied a voice." and “A majority of the Senate has decided to fulfill its constitutional role of advice and consent by withholding support for the nomination ...”

3/16/16 Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) “… it will give the American people a voice in the direction of our nation’s highest court.” and “The Constitution likewise gives the Senate the power to provide its advice and decide whether to grant or withhold its consent to that nomination.”

3/16/16 Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) "At this critical juncture in our nation's history, Texans and the American people deserve to have a say in the selection of the next lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court." and “the Senate also has the authority and responsibility to determine how to move forward with it.”

3/16/16 Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) “… Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) reaffirmed his commitment to let the American people have a voice in that pick.” and “But the Constitution also gives the Senate the full and complete power to reject or confirm the nominee.”

3/16/16 Senator David Perdue (R-GA) “… but the power to grant, or withhold, consent of such nominees rests exclusively with the United States Senate.”

3/16/16 Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) "The American people deserve a voice in the nomination of the next Supreme Court Justice."

3/16/16 Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) “… the Senate majority is giving the American people a voice to determine the direction of the Supreme Court.” and “This is about the principle, not the person.” and “… the Senate has made it clear it will be exercising its Constitutional authority to withhold consent of the nomination.”

3/16/16 Senator John Thune (R-SD) “The American people deserve to have their voices heard on the nomination of the next Supreme Court justice ...”

3/16/16 Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) “Give the people a voice, and let them chart the course for the court and the country.”

3/16/16 Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) “… and the Senate has the Constitutional responsibility to decide if it’s the right person at the right time.”

3/16/16 Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) “The American people should have the opportunity to make their voices heard before filling a lifetime appointment to the nation’s highest court.”

3/16/16 Senator John McCain (R-AZ) "We must allow the people to play a role in selecting the next lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court."

3/16/16 Senator Pat Robert (R-KS) “This is not about the nominee, it is about giving the American people and the next president a role in selecting the next Supreme Court justice.”

3/16/16 Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) “This critical decision should be made after the upcoming presidential election so that the American people have a voice.”

3/16/16 All the Republican Senators’ statements

3/16/16 Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI-1) "We should let the American people decide the direction of the court." and “...and the Senate has every right not to confirm a nominee.”

3/16/16 Congressman Robert Pittenger (R-NC-09) “With an election now in full swing, the Senate should wait and let the American people decide who they want to select our next Supreme Court Justice before confirming any nominee.” and “...the Senate has every Constitutional right not to confirm.”

3/21/16 Senator Dan Coats (R-IN) "With the president and Congress divided on which direction to take our country, I believe the best course of action is to let the people decide."

4/19/16 Senator John Thune (R-SD) "And that we ought to let the people have their voices heard, which they’ll get a chance to do this November"

8/9/16 Senator Thom Thillis (R-NC) "Voters — not a lame-duck president — should decide the composition of the highest court in the land." and “The Senate has several options on how to act — including withholding consideration of a nomination altogether.”