Bozeman Chronicle
Testor direct comments
My response to Sen. Testor
Sen. Testor,
I'm extremely disappointed with your decision not to support SCOTUS nominee Gorsuch. The points you made in your decision are flawed.
#1 - Justice R.B Ginsberg established the precedent of not commenting on potential future court cases in 1993 and every SOCTUS nominee has followed that precedent since,
#2 - There is no evidence that Gorsuch is involved with "Dark Money" (is this the same stuff that Democrats use to run ads in Montana?),
#3 - Judge Gorsuch has supported privacy and women's rights in his past decisions. He has followed the laws passed by Congress vs. being an activist judge like so many other left-of-center judges that think they can create law vs. state and federal legislation. The US Constitution is not a restaurant menu to pick and choose from, and to alter at a whim based on an individuals' opinion vs. actual law. But that's always the position of your party, and
#4 - Based on his approach to law he has been given the highest rating by the American Bar Association, and has been endorsed by persons across the political spectrum include those from your left-of-center party's perspective.
In your decision you claim Judge Gorsuch's positions goes against Montana values. Considering all the Montana Indian tribes are likely the citizens that could be most affected by SCOTUS decisions, each tribe has endorsed Judge Gorsuch based on his past record. Based on the ginned-up claims by your party apparently you don't think the tribes don't have Montana values either.
So it appears your decision flies in the face of Montana values. I guess taking orders from your out-of-state mentors/bosses are not Montana values either.
Regards,