Subject: Today from the Constitutional Responsibility Project
From: Natalie Raps <[email-masked]>
To: Natalie Raps <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 13 May 2016 21:00:30 +0000

Today in the fight for a full and functioning Supreme Court: Iowans continue to call on Sen. Grassley to end his partisan obstruction over the Supreme Court, editorials and op-eds remind Senate Republicans that it is time to do their jobs and after this week's courtesy meetings with Chief Judge Garland, Democratic Senators remain convinced that he deserves a fair hearing and a timely vote.

Earlier this week, Deborah Holley of Nevada, IA joined other former Sen. Grassley supporters on a trip to Washington to tell the Senator to do his job. Listen HERE<https://www.facebook.com/weneednine/videos/vb.1755515718003286/1782090605345797/?type=2&theater> as to why, as a long-time Grassley supporter, Deborah decided to come to Washington to express her disappointment with the Senator.

Deborah Holley, Nevada, IA: "My family knows Chuck Grassley from back when he was first put in the Senate in 1981. We were always very pleased with Senator Grassley. We thought he exhibited Iowa values with his integrity and honesty...we are very upset about this because we feel that our country needs to be unified."

The Gazette<http://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/elections/democratic-us-senate-hopefuls-make-case-for-nomination-20160512> reports that Sen. Chuck Grassley's (R-IA) Supreme Court obstruction is making an impact on Iowan voters.

"Democrats believe that the inevitability of Grassley's re-election has disappeared - or at least diminished, according to Charlene Doyle of the Poweshiek County Democrats and one of the organizers of the Democratic debate Thursday in Grinnell."

Charlene Doyle, Poweshiek County Democrats: "It's different now that he's refused to have hearings on the Supreme Court nominee. Even out here in the rural areas, at his town hall meetings, Republicans are standing up and asking him why he's doing that."

ICYMI -  Mitch McConnell Says Elections Are 'Not An Excuse' For Senators To Skip Work
Despite his rhetoric around the Supreme Court vacancy, Sen. McConnell took to the Senate floor yesterday to hypocritically discuss Senate action in an election year. Watch the clip HERE<https://twitter.com/SenateDems/status/730838286072205312>. The Huffington Post reports<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mitch-mcconnell-merrick-garland_us_57350de6e4b08f96c182c26d>:

"Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Thursday warned senators not to use the election as "an excuse not to do our work."... Sound familiar? The upcoming presidential election is the reason McConnell and other Republicans have cited for not granting a confirmation hearing for Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee."

Meanwhile, editorials and op-eds continue to roll in critiquing the Senate GOP's continued obstruction.
From the editorial board of The Republican<http://www.masslive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/05/senators_have_duty_to_act_on_o.html>:

"Recalcitrant Republicans have absolutely no legitimate reason to keep Garland on the shelf. The president did his job. Now it's up to them to do theirs. Or explain clearly why they refuse to budge. But they won't. Because they can't...Republicans love to cite the Constitution - when it's convenient. McConnell and his allies would do well to take another look at the document, specifically at Article II, Section 2. Then they should schedule confirmation hearings."

From Scot Lehigh of the Boston Globe<https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2016/05/12/trump-and-supreme-court-fight/NkBukgSIOQpo50C9Ve3CAK/story.html>:

"Do you feel lucky<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xjr2hnOHiM>? That's the question Republicans need to ask themselves when it comes to Merrick Garland, the superbly qualified jurist whom Barack Obama has nominated to the US Supreme Court...Republicans are blocking Garland in the hope that Trump - who has trafficked in racism and misogyny and who has said (though later retracted) that if abortion becomes illegal, women who have abortions must be punished - can choose the next justice."

After their courtesy meetings with Chief Judge Garland this week, Democratic Senators call on their Republican colleagues to allow the American people to hear directly from the nominee.

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI): "Chief Judge Garland and I had a productive discussion about his record and approach to the law, and it is clear to me that he is a well-qualified candidate for the Supreme Court.  While I was glad to hear from him personally, the American people deserve to hear from him too... it's time for Senate Republicans to do their job, take the next step in the process, and give Chief Judge Garland a fair and timely hearing and vote." [Sen. Schatz Press Release, 5/10/16<http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-meets-with-supreme-court-nominee-merrick-garland>]

Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT): "Refusing to meet with Judge Garland is as dangerous as it is unprecedented. Considering a Supreme Court nominee is not a choice, it's a Constitutional responsibility."[Flathead Beacon, 5/13/16<http://flatheadbeacon.com/2016/05/13/tester-meets-with-stalled-scotus-nominee-lashes-out-at-senate-republicans/>]

Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA): "Chief Judge Merrick Garland is an eminently qualified nominee for the Supreme Court, and it is the Senate's obligation to consider and vote on his nomination without further delay. My discussions today with Judge Garland made clear that he has dedicated his career to upholding our Constitution and that he will advance the rule of law in our nation...Senate Republicans are engaged in the worst kind of partisan obstruction by ignoring their Constitutional duty to act on Judge Garland's nomination. The United States Constitution is a remarkable document. Let us respect it, not run from it." [Sen. Markey Press Release, 5/11/16<http://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-meets-with-supreme-court-nominee-judge-merrick-garland>]

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