To watch Senator Capito’s full remarks, click here or the image above.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), joined Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), for a press conference to discuss their strong opposition to Democrats’ court packing plan. Since 1869, the U.S. Supreme Court has had nine justices, and any attempt to increase this number would jeopardize the political independence and legitimacy of America’s highest court.
“The American people reject packing, as they would reject restructuring, because they are actually one in the same. The other thing that I would say, that's been pointed out from my colleagues, is that the sensitivities of the checks and balances of our system are something to marvel at. To watch how, through the 150 years of nine people on our Supreme Court, we've had the ebbs and flows of the very impactful decisions…and how they have moved from right of center, left of center as the policies would dictate. I think that's what you want.”
BACKGROUND:
Senator Capito is one of the 12 original co-sponsors of Senate Joint Resolution 14, which was introduced on March 25, 2019. This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that limits the size of the Supreme Court to no more than nine Justices. Since 1869, there have been nine Justices on the Supreme Court. Ratification of this amendment would stop the Democrats current desire to pack the court. It would also remove the temptation for either party to attempt to restructure the court in a partisan way in the future.
Additionally, Senator Capito joined Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and all Senate Republicans in sending a letter to the Supreme Court of the United States condemning Democrats’ threats to pack the Supreme Court. Click here to read the full letter.
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