Legislative Letters

Re: Oppose the judicial nomination of Michael Truncale to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

May 16, 2018

Dear Senator,

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) works to turn environmental values into national, state and local priorities. Each year, LCV publishes the National Environmental Scorecard, which details the voting records of members of Congress on environmental legislation. The Scorecard is distributed to LCV members, concerned voters nationwide, and the media.

We urge you to oppose the judicial nomination of Michael Truncale to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Mr. Truncale has a record of hostility to environmental protections that raises serious concerns about his ability to be an impartial jurist. He once wrote a piece entitled “The reason to vote for Trump,” in which he stated: “The new liberal Supreme Court will determine whether President Obama’s executive order to institute a ‘Clean Power Plan,’ which would essentially put the coal industry out of business in an attempt to ‘combat climate change,’ should be upheld. If a liberal Court upholds such executive-made law, expect the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to control virtually every pond, lake, or creek in America by redefining the term, ‘Waters of the United States,’ as set forth in the Clean Water Act.” Further, in a 2012 speech, he referred to the EPA as a “job killer.” The impacts of climate change are already having devastating consequences across the globe and communities across the country are at risk of water pollution; we simply cannot afford to have the Senate confirm someone who has spoken out against these important rules to a lifetime appointment.

LCV is committed to racial justice and equity, expanding access to the ballot and campaign finance reform that limits the influence of corporate money in politics. Mr. Truncale has been clear about his support for restrictions on voting rights, which often disenfranchises low-income communities and communities of color. In a 2013 speech, he described the Shelby County v. Holder decision gutting the Voting Rights Act as a “victory,” and in a 2014 speech in 2014, said “voter fraud makes a mockery of our elections” and photo ID laws are necessary “so that everyone’s vote is protected from being diminished by someone who votes several times.” He has also been clear about his opposition to campaign finance limits, writing in 2016 that “limiting the amount of money an individual or organization can spend on the communication of ideas will diminish the right to speech.”

For these reasons, LCV strongly urges you to oppose the judicial nomination of Michael Truncale to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. We will consider including this confirmation vote in the 2018 Scorecard. If you need more information, please call my office at (202) 785-8683 and ask to speak with a member of our government relations team.

Sincerely,

Gene Karpinski

President