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Casey Calls Kavanaugh Supreme Court Nomination 'An Attack On Workers' Rights'

Matt Slocum
/
AP

In a conference call with labor leaders on Thursday, U.S. Senator Bob Casey decried President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, judge Brett Kavanaugh, as part of an effort "to turn over the third branch of government to the corporate right."

Casey was joined by Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers Union, Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO President, and others. They talked about how they believed workers’ rights would be further endangered if Kavanaugh is confirmed to the court. Many cited the Supreme Court’s recent Janus decision as an indication of the court’s anti-worker leanings.

“Kavanaugh’s judicial record makes no secret of his unbending loyalty to corporate powers,” Trumka said.

Even prior to Kavanaugh's nomination, Casey criticized the President’s pick for the Supreme Court as being determined exclusively by special interest groups. Casey called out two conservative groups -- the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society -- as organizations that advocate directly against workers rights and working families.

“I oppose this nomination principally because I don’t want to turn over the third branch of government to the corporate right,” Casey said.

In July, Casey’s Republican counterpart, U.S. Senator Pat Toomey announced his enthusiastic support for Kavanaugh after meeting with him. Toomey said he expected a bipartisan confirmation vote in September or October.

If confirmed, Kavanaugh would replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.