Washington, D.C. – As the President nominated Chief Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court to succeed Justice Scalia, League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski issued the following statement:

“We applaud President Obama for fulfilling his constitutional obligation to nominate a successor to Justice Scalia, and we believe that Merrick Garland has impeccable qualifications and will be a welcome addition to the highest court in the land. It’s now time for Senator McConnell, Senator Grassley and other Republican senators to stop obstructing and do their job. Polls show that the American people strongly believe the Senate must give the president’s nominee both a fair hearing and a timely vote, and we urge them to do just that.

“Upcoming Supreme Court decisions will have a significant impact our country, including how we address climate change and protect clean air and water, as well as the role of polluter money in politics. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and that’s why LCV is engaging in this judicial confirmation process in a far bigger way than ever before.”

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