TO THE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, opposes a filibuster of his nomination, and will consider including votes on cloture related to his nomination in our annual How They Voted scorecard.
The American business community and America’s free-enterprise system depend on the stable rule of law guaranteed by the Constitution, and which has been maintained by the three co-equal branches of government for the past 227 years.
No one, the Chamber included, agrees with every decision rendered by any judge. However, over the course of his distinguished judicial career and during the current confirmation process, Judge Gorsuch has demonstrated that he is eminently qualified to serve on the Supreme Court.
During the confirmation hearing held by the Senate Judiciary Committee, Judge Gorsuch spent nearly 20 hours answering approximately 1,200 questions from Senators. He has provided an additional 70 pages of written responses to questions from Senators of both parties.
No Supreme Court nominee has ever been blocked by a partisan filibuster. And in the one instance where a nominee was blocked, the nominee did not have the clear support of a majority of Senators. Despite the rise in partisanship in recent years, since 1980, only two Supreme Court nominees required cloture prior to the actual vote on their confirmations. In those instances, the nominations proceeded to a final vote and ultimate confirmation.
To date, a number of Democratic senators have stated that they will vote to prevent a filibuster of Judge Gorsuch’s nomination and allow the Senate to proceed to a final vote. The Chamber urges you to do the same.
Sincerely,
Thomas J. Donohue
