John Block Reports from Washington

Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by
the National Corn Growers Association, CropLife America, and Renewable Fuels Association.
They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural
America. Thank you.

And now for today’s commentary –

Another President Trump promise has been kept. Amy Coney Barrett is now a member
of the U.S. Supreme Court. Lead Democrat in the Senate, Chuck Schumer said “Confirmation of
a lifetime appointment this late into presidential election season is outrageous.” The Senate
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell responded, “the Senate is doing the right thing.” I understand
Senator Schumer’s opposition to the confirmation. He had hoped that Biden would beat Trump
in the election and perhaps also if the Democrats could take control of the Senate – maybe they
could fill the seat held by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Timing is everything. Now
Republicans have a strong conservative majority on the court – six to three.

The vote to confirm Justice Barrett was 52-48. Every Republican Senator except 1 voted
for her but no Democrats. President Trump said, “she will make an outstanding Justice on the
highest court.” She is the first Republican woman to be seated on the Court since Sandra Day
O’Connor in 1981 by President Reagan. That was my first year as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
Justice Barrett is the first Justice to have school age children. She has 7, and 2 of them
were adopted. Democrats hope to see Biden win the election and win a majority in the Senate.
Then with that majority power, they could pass legislation to increase the number of members of
the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has had 9 justices for the last 150 years. President
Roosevelt tried to “Pack the Court” back in the 1930s. He didn’t’ get it done. We don’t want
that to happen now either. 

Justice Barrett and the other eight Justices will go to work next week.
There is a list of important issues on the table. That includes regulatory cases, a Fish and
Wildlife Service issue, and President Trump wants illegal immigrants to be excluded from the
Census. I agree with the President that they should not be counted. The Court will decide. Be
sure to vote next week!

Until next week, this John Block reporting from Washington, D.C. If you would like to
review my radio shows going back more than 20 years, just go on-line to
www.johnblockreports.com.