CITIZENS OF MAINE ONLY PLEASE as the Senators only consider the opinions of their constituents!!!!!! The Gorsuch nomination is scheduled for vote in the Senate on April 7, 2017, so, if you oppose the nomination, please sign this petition at your earliest convenience. Before setting forth the reasons supporting this petition, I ask that you take a moment to call Senator COLLINS (202-224-2523; 207-780-3575) and Senator KING (202-224-5344;207-945-8000) to tell them that their opposition to the Gorsuch nomination is important to you, and they should vote "NO" to Judge Gorsuch. OUR CALLS DO MATTER as I've been told by every legislator with whom I've spoken in recent months! The following are but a few of the objections and concerns raised by the nomination of Judge Gorsuch to the Supreme Court: 1) While Judge Gorsuch claims to be apolitical, his nomination is supported by a publicity campaign funded by millions of dollars of "Dark Money" from largely unknown, apparently conservative, sources (reportedly linked to a network tied to the Koch brothers). 2) Confirmation of Judge Gorsuch, who is 49, will have a profound and enduring effect on our Nation as his philosophy and predilections will likely shape the views of the Court for more than 30 years. 3) During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Judge Gorsuch was evasive and refused to answer legitimate questions designed to reveal his judicial philosophy. 4) Judge Gorsuch is a proponent of "originalism" (and will apply the words of the U. S. Constitution as they were understood at the time they were written - 1789 - when slavery existed and women could not vote) and "textualism" (and will look solely to the objective meaning of the text of a statute rather than to the legislative intent or statutory purpose), an approach not likely to protect and forward the civil rights of women and minorities. 5) As evidenced by his prior opinions as a Judge of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and his extrajudicial writings, Judge Gorsuch will most certainly undo our country's progress in so many areas and prevent its progress in others, in part, as outlined below : ** Worker Health & Safety - See TransAm Trucking v. Admin Review Board in which Judge Gorsuch sided with the corporate employer and found that a Dept. of Labor rule that a driver can't be fired for failing to operate his vehicle because of safety concerns did not prohibit the firing of an employee who temporarily left a disabled truck trailer along the roadway in sub-zero temperatures to seek shelter at a nearby location in the truck cab. ** Environmental Protection - Judge Gorsuch has repeatedly denied court challenges brought by environmental protection groups against those who damage our environment. See, for example, Wilderness Society v. Kaine County. He also will likely restrict the ability of federal agency experts to implement federal laws enacted to preserve our planet and halt the progress of climate change. See, for example, Gutierrez-Brizuela v. Lynch. ** Campaign Finance Reform - In his concurring opinion in Riddle v. Hickenlooper, Judge Gorsuch indicated that making a campaign contribution is a "basic constitutional freedom . . . enjoying significant relationship to the right to speak . . .. Thus, it seems unlikely that Judge Gorsuch will vote to overturn Citizens United v. FEC, in which the SCOTUS struck down federal campaign finance law and held that corporations have free speech rights that permit financial contributions to political candidates. ** Women's Access To Contraception - See Burwell v. Holly Lobby Stores in which Judge Gorsuch interpreted the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to permit a corporate employer to refuse to provide its employees with medical insurance including comprehensive contraceptive coverage because it conflicted with the corporate employer's religious beliefs. ** Sex Discrimination/Harassment - Judge Gorsuch appears to have an extremely high bar for sexual harassment/discrimination cases, which will make pursuit of such cases very difficult for victims. (See, for example, Stickland v. United Parcel Service, Inc. (in a dissenting opinion, Judge Gorsuch found plaintiff's claims of multiple instances of sexual harassment insufficient to support her lawsuit). ** Separation of Church and State - In Holly Lobby, Judge Gorsuch essentially found that the religious beliefs of a closely held corporation supersedes the beliefs and the rights of employees. Much of the above information is available at https://www.indivisibleguide.com/resources-2/2017/3/17/supremelyextreme-filibuster-gorsuch

It is imperative that Mr. Trump resign immediately so that we can begin to repair the damage he has already done -- and before he can do more.

Donald Trump has issued Executive Orders demanding the EPA and other government agencies move backwards on all of the progress we've made to protect the climate over the past several years. Agencies are being ordered to ignore the impacts of carbon pollution, begin leasing coal mining rights on federal land, and -- perhaps worst of all -- the EPA is being ordered to dismantle its landmark climate protections, the Clean Power Plan. Once again, we find ourselves with an out-of-control Trump Administration ignoring science, public opinion, and sound public policy to help their buddies in the fossil fuel industry. We can't let them get away with this. Only an outpouring of public outrage can help turn the tide and defend the climate. We've seen it happen with the attempted Muslim ban, and we saw it last week with the disastrous attempt to repeal health care reform. Stand up, together, and we can defend our progress on climate change and continue our climate leadership.

Congress is paying exorbitant amounts of money to support the Trump family's lifestyle, while Trump is trying to take away the healthcare of over 24 MILLION Americans. This money should be used to better help the lives of Americans! 1. Strengthen our healthcare!!! 2. Invest in public education!!! 3. Improve conditions for homeless vets!!! Just to name a few examples.

Citizens rights. Transparency please!

This action alone might discourage dishonest applicants from even running for federal positions. This is one way to "drain the swamp".

This startling chain of events developed last week: Devin Nunes, Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, cancelled a hearing at which Sally Yates was scheduled to testify, along with James Clapper and John Brennan. Even before the cancellation, Trump Administration lawyers tried to block her appearance. As committee member Rep. Jim Himes stated in the New Yorker: “Any blocking of anyone or anything simply stokes suspicion of what the Administration might be hiding." In a follow-up, Sean Spicer gave this statement: “The White House has taken no action to prevent Sally Yates from testifying and the Department of Justice specifically told her that it would not stop her.” But Spicer's statement directly contradicts correspondence between Yates’s attorney and the Administration, which was published in the Washington Post. Clearly the current investigation is not viable with Nunes at the helm, deliberately intervening in the collection of key information. The administration has given a dishonest portrayal to the public. We demand a special committee.

The U.S. military is already the strongest in the world - bar none. We spend more on defense than what the next seven nations spend on defense combined. We cannot continue to bankrupt our domestic communities or diplomacy programs to pay for war.

Block President Executive Order for Climate change

As a resident of California, Rep. Nunes continues to act against the favor of his California constituents in addition to the country as a whole. I find his behavior to be nothing less than a disgrace to his position, the constitution, and the stability of the democracy that his reprehensible actions immediately threaten. He has no place in our government.

Public Education Advocates of the PA 34th senate district want an opportunity to ask Sen. Corman questions about his positions on public education. We want the town hall to be a time when working people can attend in a location that can accommodate as many constituents who want to attend.

I am starting this petition because I want free, fair and impartial hearings into the operation of our government, without obstructions. My Petition has nothing to do with partisan politics, it's all about being an Amercian citizen and our rights.