The influential political arm of the conservative Heritage Foundation is continuing to pressure Republicans to reject President Obama’s lower federal court nominees, despite Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s pledge to bring five candidates who easily won Senate Judiciary Committee approval to the floor.
Heritage Action and other conservative groups nearly sunk Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Wilhelmina Wright’s ascension to the federal bench when they made her confirmation a “key vote” shortly before her nomination came to the floor Jan. 19. She was ultimately confirmed 58-36, a far cry from Luis Felipe Restrepo’s 82-6 confirmation to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals Jan. 11.
Some experts said Wright’s case was anomalous and that Wednesday night’s vote on John Michael Vazquez, nominee for the U.S. District of New Jersey, and two others expected to follow soon will go much more smoothly.
Heritage Action is betting otherwise.
“Our system of government requires each branch to jealously guard its prerogatives, and President Obama routinely tramples over the legislature’s prerogatives,” Heritage Action wrote Tuesday night in urging senators to reject Vasquez. Although the group didn’t elevate its push against him to a “key vote,” like it did with Wright, it warned it might take that step later.
“Senators should not stand by idly for the next 12 months. Moving forward, Heritage Action will continue to oppose all judicial nominees and reserve the right to key vote against any and all judicial nominees retroactively.”
