AN OPEN LETTER to the UNITED STATES SENATE Thursday
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AN OPEN LETTER TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE Thursday, October 15, 2020 Dear Members of the United States Senate, We are 405 state and local elected officials from 48 states and Washington, D.C., calling on the U.S. Senate to respect the will of the people by waiting to consider a Supreme Court nominee until after Inauguration Day. As state and local officials, we are on the front lines fighting alongside our communities to address the most urgent challenges facing our nation. We are in the worst public health and economic crises in a century. Over 210,000 Americans–disproportionately Black and Brown–have lost their lives to COVID-19, and the need for affordable and accessible health care is more acute than ever. Our communities mourn the deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless other Black lives lost, and we are reckoning with the racism embedded in our nation’s institutions and culture. The Trump administration and U.S. Senate leadership should be focused on these urgent issues as well – providing our states, cities, and towns with the resources we need to save lives, save jobs, and save our democracy. It is shameful that, instead, the U.S. Senate is rushing through a nominee who is likely to eviscerate the Affordable Care Act and deprive millions of people of access to health care, destroy reproductive freedom by gutting Roe v. Wade, and suppress our right to vote, making it harder for Americans to have their voices heard in our democracy. This election is already underway, and millions of ballots have been cast. The U.S. Senate must listen to the American people in this crucial decision about the future of our nation. Rushing the process to consider a Supreme Court nominee puts the rights of our communities directly at risk. It threatens access to health care for our constituents. This ill-advised process threatens the right to free and fair elections. It risks equitable access to education, reproductive rights, economic security, housing access, disability rights, and the ability to live freely and fully. All of these critical issues and more are at stake for the people we represent. In February 2016, when a Supreme Court vacancy arose, the Senate majority refused to allow President Obama’s nominee to have a hearing or vote. They said that because it was a presidential year, the vacancy should not be filled until after the election. It is the height of hypocrisy for the Senate majority to move forward with a hearing and vote for President Trump’s nominee before the election. Our democracy functions when our institutions have credibility and legitimacy – both of which are eroded when precedents are ignored, rules are changed for partisan gain, and lies are allowed to reign unchecked. We all want a Supreme Court that is fair and impartial. We need our Court to recognize and protect the rights of all of us. Those who want a more united America, and who understand principles of basic fairness, understand the value of waiting until after the inauguration in January to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. The recent outbreak of COVID-19 on Capitol Hill and in the White House makes it clear that the real emergency is getting this pandemic under control, not rushing through a lifetime appointment to our nation’s highest court. The Senate should prioritize the health of the senators, their staff, and all those who work to keep the buildings safe and operational – as well as the health of our constituents, who have gone months without any COVID-19 relief from the federal government – and cancel the hearings. On behalf of the millions of Americans we represent, we, the undersigned state and local officials, ask you to refuse to consider a nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court before Inauguration Day 2021. Sincerely, State Legislators and Local Elected Officials Representative Neil Rafferty Birmingham Alabama Representative Geran Tarr Anchorage Alaska Representative Denise Garner Fayetteville Arkansas Representative Andrés Cano Tucson Arizona Representative Arlando S Teller Chinle Arizona Representative Athena Salman Tempe Arizona Representative Daniel Hernandez Tucson Arizona Representative Diego Rodriguez Laveen Arizona Representative Kirsten Engel Tucson Arizona Councilmember Lauren Kuby Tempe Arizona Senator Martín J. Quezada Phoenix Arizona Representative Mitzi Epstein Tempe Arizona Representative Raquel Teran Phoenix Arizona Senator Rebecca Rios phoneix Arizona Mayor Regina Romero Tucson Arizona Representative Rosanna Gabaldon Sahuarita Arizona Andrea Senator Tucson Arizona Dalessandro Senator Victoria L Steele Tucson Arizona Councilmember Andrew Lewis Los Angeles California Councilmember Chris Ward San Diego California Assemblymember David Chiu San Francisco California Mayor Elizabeth Alcantar City of Cudahy California Mayor Heidi Harmon San Luis Obispo California Commissioner Igor Tregub Berkeley California Commissioner James Chang Berkeley California City Councilmember Rigel Robinson Berkeley California Oakland School Board Shanthi Gonzales Oakland California Director Senator Dominick Moreno Commerce City Colorado Representative Emily Sirota Denver Colorado Chair, Adams County Emma Pinter Westminster Colorado Commission City Councilor Julia Marvin Thornton Colorado Senator Julie Gonzales Denver Colorado Representative Mike Weissman Aurora Colorado Colorado Senator Pete Lee Colorado Springs Colorado Councilwoman-At-Large Robin Kniech Denver Colorado City Councilmember Skippy Mesirow Aspen Colorado Mayor Ben Florsheim Middletown Connecticut Representative David Michel Stamford Connecticut Alder Ellen Cupo New Haven Connecticut Manchester Board of Emily Luna Manchester Connecticut Education Member Representative Kevin Ryan Oakdale Connecticut Mayor Marcia A. Leclerc East Hartford Connecticut Senator Marilyn Moore Bridgeport Connecticut City councilor Nicole Tomassetti Meriden Connecticut Quentin “Q” Representative Middletown Connecticut Phipps Town Clerk Sheila S. Sedlack Winsted, Connecticut Manchester Board of Yolanda Castillo Manchester Connecticut Directors Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau Washington Washington, D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto Washington Washington, D.C. Councilmember At Large Robert White Washington Washington, D.C. Senator Elizabeth Lockman Wilmington Delaware Carlos Guillermo Representative Orlando Florida Smith Representative Cindy Polo Hialeah Florida Representative Dotie Joseph Miami Florida Representative Fentrice Driskell Tampa Florida Senator Linda Stewart Orlando Florida Vice Mayor Sabrina Javellana Hallandale Beach Florida Representative Dar'shun Kendrick Lithonia Georgia Representative Debra Bazemore City of South Fulton Georgia Representative Park Cannon Atlanta Georgia Representative Sam Park Lawrenceville Georgia Sharon Beasley- Representative Red Oak Georgia Teague Representative Sheila Jones Atlanta Georgia Representative Sheila Nelson Hephzibah Georgia Council Person Vivian Mille-Cody Valdosta Georgia Representative Amy Perruso Wahiawa Hawaii Representative Chris Lee Honolulu Hawaii Representative Della Au Belatti Honolulu Hawaii Representative Linda Ichiyama Honolulu Hawaii Vice President Hawaii State Michelle N. Kidani Honolulu Hawaii Senate Hawaii Representative Romy M. Cachola Honolulu Hawaii Representative Roy Takumi Honolulu Hawaii Senator Stanley Chang Honolulu Hawaii Representative Tina Wildberger South Maui Hawaii Representative Art Staed Cedar Rapids Iowa Councilmember Ashley Vanorny Cedar Rapids Iowa Senator David Nelson Moscow Idaho Representative Jake Ellis Boise Idaho Representative Muffy Davis Hailey Idaho Senator Celina Villanueva Chicago Illinois DeKalb County Board Member Dr. Suzanne Willis DeKalb Illinois Emanuel “Chris” Representative Westchester Illinois Welch Madison co. Board member Jack Minner Edwardsville Illinois Madison Co. Il. Jacqueline Will County Board Member Bolingbrook Illinois Traynere Jennifer Gong- Representative Glenview Illinois Gershowitz DeKalb County Board Member Jim Luebke DeKalb Illinois Representative Joyce Mason Gurnee Illinois Whiteside County Board Karen Nelson Rock Falls Illinois Member Representative Kelly Cassidy Chicago Illinois Representative Lakesia Collins Chicago Illinois Senator Laura Fine Glenview Illinois Fulton County Board Lisa Thompson Canton Illinois Will County Board Member Rachel Ventura Joliet Illinois Senator Ram Villivalam Chicago Illinois Senator Robert Peters Chicago Illinois Alderman Scott Waguespack Chicago Illinois Representative Theresa Mah Chicago Illinois Representative Will Guzzardi Chicago Illinois Representative Yoni Pizer Chicago Illinois Isabel Piedmont- City Council Member Bloomington Indiana Smith City Councilor Jonathan Grieder Waterloo Iowa Representative Marti Anderson Des Moines Iowa Ames City Council Rachel Junck Ames Iowa Representative Ward 4 Representative Jim Gartner Topeka Kansas Senator Mary Ware Wichita Kansas Representative Attica Scott Louisville Kentucky School Board Member Dr. Chris Kolb Louisville Kentucky Representative Lisa Willner Louisville Kentucky Aimee Adatto Representative New Orleans Louisiana Freeman Representative Candace N. Newell New Orleans Louisiana Representative Kyle M. Green Jr. Marrero Louisiana Representative Mandie Landry New Orleans Louisiana Representative Craig Hickman Winthrop Maine Representative David H. McCrea Fort Fairfield Maine Representative Kristen S. Cloutier Lewiston Maine Senator Linda Sanborn Gorham Maine Majority Leader Matt Moonen Portland Maine Richard R. Representative Portland Maine Farnsworth City Councilor Spencer Thibodeau