As Part of Recess Campaign, Protect Our Care Wants to Know: #WhatAreTheyHiding?
After promising to conduct a “rigorous and exacting” and a “careful, thorough vetting“ of Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski are walking back their commitments by saying they do not need to see Kavanaugh’s record from the three years he served as staff secretary in the George W. Bush administration which, he describes as “among the most instructive” in his role as a federal judge.
- Sen. Murkowski: “I know that Democrats basically said, anything he has ever touched … needs to be produced. I think there comes a point where the request is no longer reasonable.”
- Sen. Collins: “I don’t see a need for those.”
These Senators oppose a thorough review of Brett Kavanaugh’s record, despite the fact that he worked on a number of issues that directly impact Americans’ health during his time as staff secretary. Among the issues we know he worked on are:
Abortion: During Kavanaugh’s time as staff secretary, President Bush signed into law an abortion ban. Kavanaugh’s records on this ban could offer valuable insight as to leanings on Roe v. Wade.
Medicaid: Also during Kavanaugh’s tenure as staff secretary, President Bush was pushing for Medicaid to be converted into a block grant program, which would have a profound impact on Medicaid’s core structure. As Republicans continue to push for Medicaid to be converted into block grant program and encourage states to adopt policy that restricts access to the program, Kavanaugh’s record on the issue is especially important.
Marriage Equality: While Kavanaugh was staff secretary, President Bush announced his support of a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage.
In refusing to ask for Kavanaugh’s record on these issues, Senator Collins and Murkowski are failing on their commitment to their constituents.