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PRESS RELEASE FROM AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM
Contact: John Kartch ( jkartch@atr.org or 202-785-0266)

[View Printable Adobe Acrobat File]

8/3/05

Supreme Court Fact of the Day
The Left's attempts to weaken the Solicitor General's office

The Left, desperate for a reason – any reason will do – to oppose the nomination of Judge John G. Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court, is now seeking to undo protections that have served the United States well for generations.

Judge Roberts worked as the Principal Assistant Solicitor General for George H. W. Bush and now the Left wants to go through the papers that were produced during his tenure, a clear break in tradition that is vehemently opposed by every living former solicitor general.

Seven former solicitor generals weighed in when the Left attempted to use this same trick to acquire confidential papers from the Solicitor General’s office to keep Miguel Estrada off the bench. Three Solicitors General who served under President Clinton, Archibald Cox who served under President Kennedy, and three Republicans signed a June 2002 letter unambiguously opposing the Left’s politicize the internal deliberations of the Solicitor General’s office:

Any attempt to intrude into the Office's highly privileged deliberations would come at the cost of the Solicitor General's ability to defend vigorously the United States' litigation interests--a cost that also would be borne by Congress itself. Although we profoundly respect the Senate's duty to evaluate Mr. Estrada's fitness for the federal judiciary, we do not think that the confidentiality and integrity of internal deliberations should be sacrificed in the process.

The Left’s continual war to smear any of the President’s qualified nominees, and to break down protections essential to the effective pursuit of the United States government’s legal interest for no legitimate reason beyond political gain shows how desperate they have become to stop the President’s agenda at any and all costs.

Americans for Tax Reform has called on the Senate to meet its constitutional obligation and ensure a speedy confirmation process with an up or down vote on all judicial nominees.

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Americans for Tax Reform is a non-partisan coalition of taxpayers and taxpayer groups who oppose any and all federal and state tax increases.  For more information, or to arrange an interview with Mr. Norquist please contact John Kartch at (202)785-0266 or by email at jkartch@atr.org.