Duckworth campaign photo
CHICAGO – If you have an opinion about how your US Senator should vote on the Kavanaugh confirmation, you may be interested in knowing how Illinois' junior senator is responding to her constituents statewide. Neither of Illinois' US Senators -Tammy Duckworth nor Dick Durbin – will be on Illinois' ballot in November. And they're both sticking with the Democrat party line in strong opposition to President Trump's nomination.
Duckworth, who defeated Left-leaning Republican Mark Kirk in 2016, says that she will be a "no" vote. Duckworth "fears" Judge Kavanaugh "would be the deciding vote in critical cases that restrict a woman's freedom to make health care decisions with her doctor, tear away protections that guarantee Americans with pre-existing conditions may obtain health insurance and empower a President of the United States to be above the law."
Below is a copy of the response she sent to a concerned Illinois voter:
Dear Neighbor,Thank you for contacting me about the nomination of the Honorable Brett Kavanaugh to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. I appreciate you taking the time to make me aware of your concerns on this important matter.
As your United States Senator, my constitutional responsibility is to fairly evaluate a Supreme Court nominee’s qualifications for a lifetime appointment. To earn my support, a Supreme Court nominee must demonstrate integrity, wisdom, independence and a commitment to interpreting the United States Constitution and applying the law in a fair and principled manner. When evaluating judicial nominees, I focus on an individual's written words, public statements and professional record.
After carefully reviewing Judge Kavanaugh's opinions from the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, along with his speeches, presentations and prior confirmation hearing materials, I must oppose his nomination. Judge Kavanaugh's rulings and dissents reveal a jurist who is willing to embrace radical constitutional interpretation and to legislate from the bench when it favors powerful corporate interests. Judge Kavanaugh also expressed a troubling deference to presidential power. For example, during a 1998 Georgetown Law School conference, Judge Kavanaugh agreed with the proposition that as a matter of law, a sitting President may not be indicted during a term of office.
Most importantly, I am gravely concerned by Judge Kavanaugh's writings. Based on his own words, I fear that Judge Kavanaugh would be the deciding vote in critical cases that restrict a woman's freedom to make health care decisions with her doctor, tear away protections that guarantee Americans with pre-existing conditions may obtain health insurance and empower a President of the United States to be above the law. That is why I must vote no.
Thank you again for contacting me on this important issue. If you would like more information on my work in the Senate, please visit my website at www.duckworth.senate.gov. You can find upcoming events in the state, sign up for my newsletter, access my voting record and see what I am doing to address today’s most important issues. I hope that you will continue to share your views and opinions with me and let me know whenever I may be of assistance to you.
Sincerely,
Tammy Duckworth
United States Senator
