"I believe the American people should have a voice: it's their Supreme Court and this appointment will have a direct impact on their lives and the lives of generations to come."
WASINGTON D.C. - Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), as Dean of the Women Senators, joined 6 of her Democratic women colleagues today to launch a new interactive website to engage Americans in the Supreme Court confirmation process of Judge John G. Roberts, Jr. Through http://democrats.senate.gov/AskRoberts or http://Mikulski.senate.gov, Senator Mikulski asked Americans to pose the questions they want Judge Roberts to be asked in his upcoming Senate hearings.
"The American people know there is a lot at stake with this nomination," said Senator Mikulski. "They deserve to know where the Supreme Court nominee stands on issues that are important to their lives. Where is he on the implicit right to privacy? The power of Congress to legislate to prevent discrimination and to protect the environment? If he believes Congress can punish corporate wrongdoers or if it's constitutional for Congress to make sure that girls' sports teams get equal funding? Because decisions of the Supreme Court are the final law of the land and Judge Roberts has been nominated for a lifetime appointment to this court."
By going online, Americans can ensure that their questions are heard by the policymakers tasked with the advice and consent role in Supreme Court nominations. The Senators intend to use these questions as guideposts for the materials they submit to the Judiciary Committee.
"I believe the American people should have a voice: it's their Supreme Court and this appointment will have a direct impact on their lives and the lives of generations to come," continued Senator Mikulski. "I am proud to have partnered with my colleagues to ensure that Americans get a chance to ask the questions they want answered."
Senator Mikulski is joined in this project by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senator Mary L. Landrieu (D-LA), Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Senator Hillary R. Clinton (D-NY).