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ACTION ALERT!! Final Sutton Vote is Imminent
April 2003THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THEY WILL SEEK TO START SENATE FLOOR DEBATE ON JEFFREY SUTTON, JUDICIAL NOMINEE TO THE SIXTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS, AS EARLY AS 5PM NEXT MONDAY, APRIL 7.
The Democrats are resisting entering into a time agreement which means we can delay the actual vote for as long as Senators agree to speak on the issues. Disability rights and the ADA, of course, are not partisan issues, but we cannot stop Sutton's confirmation without the same leadership Democrats have been exhibiting on other nominees such as Estrada, Pickering, etc.
Sen. Feinstein's vote for Sutton in the Judiciary Committee has made our job so much harder. While she was using a vote for Sutton to try to illustrate that she is not an "obstructionist," she only succeeded in telling us that our rights don't count as much as others. We need her to join her colleagues who are outraged that an ideologue like Sutton may win confirmation to a powerful, lifetime position on the Federal court.
We need to be united as a community and call on Senators to speak out against Sutton and his aggressive activism steeped in Federalism, "States' Rights," and the undermining of the authority of Congress to protect the civil rights of people with disabilities.
ACTION NEEDED: Phone calls and Faxes Monday and all week long to your Senators as well as the Senate offices listed below. Even though we have been at this for almost two years now, many Senators are just starting to pay attention to Sutton's nomination.
NOW WE NEED TO WORK INTENSELY TO FINISH OUR JOB!
As a community, we have done an amazing job on Sutton. We have made thousands of calls, faxed hundreds of letters of organizations opposed to his confirmation, had hundreds of individuals march to the White House, protest Sutton's hearing, and speak to the media. We have had letters to the editor, Op-Eds in major newspapers, and events led by Sen. Harkin, Pat Garrett and others. We have been having meetings with Senators and their staff who all indicate that they are hearing from members of the disability community. We need to finish what we have started with a resounding "Stop Sutton!"
Please call. Please send a Fax. Please Fax your organization's letter of opposition EVEN IF YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE SO!
MESSAGE: Speak out against Sutton during extended debate on the Senate Floor. Delay the vote and educate the public about Sutton's extremist ideology. Vote "NO" on Sutton when there is a vote.
Sutton is opposed by more than 400 nonpartisan disability, civil rights, women's, environmental, and other groups. He has been the leader of the "states' rights" and Federalism movement which has led to the weakening of the ADA. He fought against us in Olmstead. His arguments have led the dismantling of civil rights laws including the Age Discrimination Act, Violence Against Women Act, and the rights of Medicaid recipients to sue for appropriate medical care. Not only as an attorney in controversial cases, but in his private speeches and interviews, Sutton has led the effort to undo Federal civil rights legislation and the authority of Congress to respond to the petition of American citizens.
CONTACT: Call and Fax your Senators first and use information from ADA Watch to make your case. We are asking for a lot but we cannot win this campaign without your efforts.
Contact Sen. Tom Harkin at V: 202-224-3254 and F: 202-224- 9369. Thank him for his leadership on Sutton and ask him to aggressively lead the effort to delay any vote on Sutton's confirmation.
Contact Sen. Feinstein at V: 202-224-3841 and F: 202-224- 3841. Respectfully ask her to vote against Sutton on the floor.
In addition, contact the following members of the Democratic leadership and ask them to speak out against Sutton in their Caucus and at length during the extended Senate debate.
Sen. Tom Daschle V: 224-2321 F: 224-6603
Sen. Harry Reid V: 224-3542 F: 224:7327
Sen. Barbara Mikulski V: 224-4654 F: 224-8858
Sen. John Breaux V: 224-4623 F: 224-2577
Sen. Byron Dorgan V: 224-2551 F: 224-1193
Sen. Hillary Clinton V: 224-4451 F: 228-0282
Sen. Dick Durbin V: 224-2152 F: 228-0400
Sen. John Corzine V: 224-4744 F: 228-2197
Sen. Debbie Stabnow V: 224-4822 F: 224-0325
Sen. Barbara Boxer V: 202-224-3553 F: 415-956-6701
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