U.S. Appellate Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court will require approval from the U.S. Senate, and response from the region’s lawmakers indicates that fight will be fierce, despite President Trump’s comments alleging broad bipartisan support.
Republicans praised Kavanaugh’s deference to the Constitution, while Democrats warned the pick would reverse important judicial decisions involving health care and women’s reproductive rights.
Washington Democratic Senator Patty Murray says she would oppose Kavanaugh’s nomination, and called on the president to nominate someone who is clearly and strongly committed to not rolling back settled law when it comes to women’s health and patient protections, and to protecting the rights and freedoms that people across the country hold so dear. Murray said Judge Kavanaugh fails on both counts.
Washington Democrat Senator Maria Cantwell issued a brief reaction to the nomination of Kavanaugh, saying she has grave concerns about the nomination and Kavanaugh’s previous decisions on net neutrality and health care.
On the other side of the aisle, Idaho Republican U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee which will review Kavanaugh’s nomination before it goes to the full chamber, praised Trump’s pick, saying Kavanaugh has a strong background of legal experience and knowledge, and said he’d look for strict adherence to the Constitution in a potential Supreme Court justice, not “creating new law by judicial activism from the bench.” Fellow Idaho Republican Senator Jim Risch attended the announcement of Kavanaugh’s nomination at the White House and also praised Trump’s selection. (Spokesman-Review)
