Freedom Line Blog

Today’s Senate vote to confirm Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court was unsurprising because a majority of senators had already committed their “Yea” votes.  Curious, though, was the support of Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH).  You may remember that Gregg was the man who turned down President Barack Obama’s offer to be Commerce Secretary, and then set about hammering the Obama Administration’s fiscal profligacy.

He also opted not to seek reelection after his term ends next January.  Here’s Gregg’s statement on why he voted for Kagan:

Senator Gregg stated, “The Senate’s duty to provide advice and consent on Presidential nominations to the Supreme Court is one of its most significant constitutional responsibilities.  Separate and distinct from its legislative function, the confirmation process requires the Senate to put aside politics and conduct a frank and evenhanded review of the nominee’s record, qualifications and demonstrated ability to apply the law in a fair and impartial manner.

“I have met personally with Solicitor General Elena Kagan, reviewed her record, and followed her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.  During this process, Ms. Kagan has pledged that she will exercise judicial restraint and decide each case that comes before her based on the law, with objectivity and without regard to her personal views.  She also has served the American people under two different administrations and has a strong legal academic background.   She is qualified to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Ms. Kagan and I may have different political philosophies, but I believe that the confirmation process should be based on qualifications, not ideological litmus tests or political affiliation.  I will vote for her confirmation.”

Please.  Kagan served in two Democrat administrations and published three articles in nearly two decades as an “academic.” The only qualifications Kagan has to be an Associate Justice is a Harvard law degree and an uncanny ability to land jobs for which she has no preparation.

Taxpayers are doing their part to defeat government-run health care by marching, calling Congress and urging others to get involved.

Senator Judd Gregg, someone with direct power to defeat ObamaCare, now has a legislative blueprint for stopping the Senate’s version of health care “reform.”

Among the highlights:

• “Hard” Quorum Calls – requires at least 51 Senators to be present in the Senate chamber for any substantive debate on health care.

• Reading of Amendments and Conference Reports in Entirety – with 2,000 pages to read, it would take days.

• Senate Points of Order – delays legislative business because the Senate is required to take two roll call votes to dispense with a point of order.

• Filibuster by Amendment – until Harry Reid invokes cloture, Senators may offer an unlimited number of amendments.

• Motion to Instruct Conferees – Senators may offer an unlimited number of motions to instruct the Senate’s conferees.

You can do your part to defeat government-run health care by calling 202-224-3121 and telling your Senators to vote “No” on the Senate bill.