Editor’s note: The following are two press releases concerning Senator Grassley and his unprecedented and still extremely controversial hijacking of the Supreme Court nomination of Merrick Garland.
For Immediate Release: June 27, 2018
Contact: wcmia@whycourtsmatteriowa.org
Des Moines, Iowa — Today the United State Supreme Court created new law, reversing longstanding precedent and ruled 5-4 in Janus v. AFSCME that nonmembers of public-sector unions are not required to pay fees to cover representation and services from which they benefit they benefit.
Iowa Citizen Action Network Executive Director Sue Dinsdale, One Iowa Executive Director Daniel Hoffman-Zinnel, Americans for Democratic Action Iowa Director Chris Schwartz, and Progress Iowa Executive Director Matt Sinovic issued the following joint statement on behalf of Why Courts Matter Iowa in response:
“Two years ago, Senator Grassley committed unprecedented obstruction and stole a Supreme Court seat. Today, that stolen seat provided a one vote margin to strip away the rights of workers.”
“With one ruling, the court has created new law and made the entire United States public sector workforce ‘right to work for less’. By reversing longstanding precedent set in the Abood case of 1977, today’s decision prevents unions from collecting fair-share fees from non-members who benefit from representation by the union, as well as collective bargaining that can improve working conditions, benefits, and wages.”
“Elections have consequences, and the efforts of Senator Grassley and his colleagues to politicize the courts is apparent in today’s ruling. We will continue to speak out against Senator Grassley’s turning the judicial branch in to his partisan, political playground. And we will work side by side with working families and their allies for the constitutional rights of every worker.”
The Why Courts Matter Iowa coalition is focused on ensuring that the federal judiciary is representative of America’s diverse population so that every American can have his or her day in court. Why Courts Matter Iowa is led by Iowa Citizen Action Network, Americans for Democratic Action Iowa, Progress Iowa, and One Iowa.
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Iowans Tell Grassley: No SCOTUS Nomination Until Russia Investigation Complete
For Immediate Release: June 28, 2018
Contact: Matt Sinovic, (515) 423-0133
Petition campaign launched at stolenscotus.com
Des Moines, Iowa — Iowans are speaking out in reaction to the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, and calling on Senator Grassley to stop any nomination from moving forward until the investigation of President Trump is complete. Less than twenty four hours after Justice Kennedy’s announcement, Iowans are organizing at a grassroots effort with petitions and rallies to prevent a President who is under investigation for obstruction and collusion from being able to appoint his replacement.
A coalition of grassroots organizations, elected officials and prominent Iowans issued the following joint statement directed at Senator Grassley:
“No President who is the subject of a counterintelligence investigation should receive a hearing for any nomination he makes to the Supreme Court. Senator Grassley already helped steal one seat on the Supreme Court by playing partisan politics. He must not move forward with another theft on behalf of a President who is being investigated by the Justice Department for obstruction of justice and collusion with a foreign government. Until the investigation has run its course, Senator Grassley and the Senate should not move ahead with any nomination made by President Trump.”
Those issuing the statement include the following:
Progress Iowa
AFSCME Council 61
Americans for Democratic Action Iowa
Asian & Latino Coalition
Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans
Iowa Citizen Action Network
Iowa State Education Association
Indivisible Iowa
Iowa Main Street Alliance
Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Planned Parenthood Voters of Iowa
Senator Joe Bolkcom
Senator Rob Hogg
Representative Liz Bennett
Representative Timi Brown-Powers
Representative Chris Hall
Representative Vicki Lensing
Representative Beth Wessel-Kroeschell
Stacey Walker, Linn County Supervisor
Chris Schwartz, Blackhawk County Supervisor
Alicia Claypool, former Chair, Iowa Civil Rights Commission
Jonathan Wilson, Des Moines attorney
In addition, a petition was launched today at www.StolenSCOTUS.com, encouraging Iowans and Americans to contact Senator Grassley with a similar message. The petition signatures gathered will be delivered in the coming weeks, in addition to other events empowering Iowans to make their voices heard by rallying, calling, and speaking out against the theft of another Supreme Court seat.
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