October 25, 2017
Washington, DC
Signatures updated 12/17/17
Conservatives have expressed concern over the Senate’s slow pace in confirming President Trump’s nominees. At first, it seemed that this was a tactic of Senator Schumer and his loyal Democrats. Then, it seemed that Republican Leader McConnell was responsible by reducing Senate work schedules to 2.5 days a week.
Now, even the mainstream media reports that some of these nominees are being blocked from consideration by members of the President’s own party. Specifically, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is refusing to allow consideration of the nomination of deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Russ Vought, who is a veteran of Capitol Hill and formerly staffed Vice President Pence when he was in Congress, in addition to working for former Sen. Phil Gramm, and Rep. Jeb Hensarling, both Texans. Cornyn’s hold should be concerning to conservatives for the following reasons.
First, Sen. Cornyn is a member of Republican Senate leadership and it is his job to aid the President of his own party to confirm qualified nominees. Vought is more than qualified for the position — indeed, Cornyn has raised no objection to Vought’s ability to perform in the role to which he is nominated. He is a conservative held in the highest esteem by his peers. He has an unquestioned record of expertise in budget and policy issues combined with his history of honorable service in key roles in the House and Senate. Without a substantive objection to the nominee’s qualifications, President Trump should expect the Senate’s Republican leadership to quickly confirm this nominee.
Second, Sen. Cornyn has publicly stated he is blocking Vought’s confirmation, not because of any concerns with his qualifications or policy views, but instead for the unrelated issue of demanding more federal funding. Texas is already receiving aid in the $36.5 billion supplemental funding bill that recently passed the House, and is under consideration by the Senate. Yet, Cornyn wants more. In taking this position, Cornyn appears to be playing politics and one-upsmanship with his fellow Texans, Governor Abbott and Senator Cruz, both of whom have helped to bring about appropriate and constructive federal support in response to this natural disaster. This behavior by Senator Cornyn is unbecoming a Senator who wants to be the next Republican leader in the Senate and who professes to be a principled conservative.
Third, however, is the fact that Cornyn is blocking the confirmation of a nominee who has been repeatedly attacked for his religious beliefs. At Vought’s confirmation hearing in June, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) claimed that Vought was not qualified for a position within the government because of his Christian faith. With his comments, Sanders overtly violated Article IV of the Constitution, which prohibits religion as a threshold test for public service. In making these comments, Sanders crossed into territory that is dismaying in its intolerance and shocking in its intention. The only answer to such an outright and unconstitutional expression of bigotry is swift confirmation of Vought’s nomination by the Senate. Yet, by blocking this nomination, Sen. Cornyn is complicit in support of Sen. Sanders’ position by holding Vought’s nomination hostage.
The Constitution gives the Senate the responsibility to advise and consent on presidential nominees. This is a critical role that conservatives have continually used to stop unqualified nominees, or those nominees which senators believe will advance bad policy or fail to uphold the Constitution. But, Sen. Cornyn’s actions are not based on this.
What Sen. Cornyn is engaged in is not principled leadership. It is not majority party leadership.
We call on Sen. Cornyn to lift his hold on the nomination of Russ Vought, once again stand for principle, provide the kind of leadership expected from the #2 Republican in the Senate and prevail on Majority Leader McConnell to schedule a vote on this nominee without delay.
| The Honorable Edwin Meese III Former Attorney General President Ronald Reagan |
The Honorable Becky Norton Dunlop Chairman, Conservative Action Project Former White House Advisor, President Ronald Reagan |
| Cleta Mitchell, Esq. | Jenny Beth Martin Chairman Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund |
| Diana Banister President and Partner Shirley & Banister Public Affairs |
The Honorable T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr. Chief Assistant to President Reagan for Domestic Affairs |
| Adam Brandon President FreedomWorks |
The Honorable Bob McEwen U.S. House of Representatives Former Member, Ohio |
| Ed Corrigan Former Executive Director Senate Steering Committee |
Rachel Bovard Former Policy Director Senate Steering Committee |
| David Bozell President ForAmerica |
Colin A. Hanna President Let Freedom Ring |
| Tom Fitton President Judicial Watch, Inc. |
Tom McClusky President March for Life Action |
| Alfred S. Regnery Chairman Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund |
The Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell Chairman Constitutional Congress, Inc. |
| Marjorie Dannenfelser President Susan B. Anthony List |
The Honorable David McIntosh President Club for Growth |
| The Honorable Tony Perkins President, Family Research Council President, Council for National Policy |
William L. Walton Chairman CNP Action, Inc. |
| Rebecca Hagelin Secretary, Council for National Policy Board of Directors, FamilyTalk |
Penny Young Nance CEO and President, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee |
| The Honorable Ken Cuccinelli II President Senate Conservatives Fund |
David N. Bossie President Citizens United |
| The Honorable Gary L. Bauer President American Values |
The Honorable Mike Spence Founding President Conservative Republicans of California |
| Robert Alt President & CEO The Buckeye Institute |
The Honorable Morton C. Blackwell Chairman The Weyrich Lunch |
| Mathew D. Staver, Esq. Founder and Chairman Liberty Counsel |
Kelly Shackelford President/CEO/Chief Counsel First Liberty Institute |
| Ginni Thomas President Liberty Consulting |
Elaine Donnelly President Center for Military Readiness |
| The Honorable James C. Miller III Budget Director for President Reagan (1985-1988) |
Larry T. Beasley President/CEO The Washington Times |
| Peter J. Thomas Chairman The Conservative Caucus |
The Honorable Belden Bell Board Emeritus The Heritage Foundation |
| Sal Russo Founder and Chief Strategist Tea Party Express |
Sean Noble President American Encore |
| Willes K. Lee President, National Federation of Republican Assemblies |
Donna Hearne CEO Constitutional Coalition |
| George Rasley Managing Editor ConservativeHQ.com |
Ron Robinson President Young America’s Foundation |
| Anthony Saliba CEO Saliba Venture Management |
Christopher Malagisi Editor in Chief Conservative Book Club |
| Rod D. Martin Founder & CEO The Martin Organization, Inc. |
Sherri R. Martin Executive Vice President The Martin Organization, Inc. |
| Haley E. Martin President The Martin Foundation |
Shawn A. Mitchell Former National Chaplain, National Federation of Republican Assemblies |
| Evelio Silvera Campaign for the American Future |
Nicholas Stehle Campaign for the American Future |
| The Honorable Jerry Melvin Former Dean Florida House of Representatives |
Norm Singleton President Campaign for Liberty |
| William W. Pascoe, III Managing Partner Antietam Communications |
Martha Boneta Executive Vice President Citizens for the Republic |
| Samuel B. Casey Managing Director & General Counsel Jubilee Campaign |
Neil Siefring Vice President Hilltop Advocacy, LLC |
| The Honorable Michael R. Long State Chairman New York State Conservative Party |
Lee A. Beaman CEO Beaman Automotive Group |
| Susan A. Carleson Chairman/CEO American Civil Rights Union |
Dr. Jerome R. Corsi, Ph.D. Washington Bureau Chief Infowars.com |
| Ed Martin President, Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund |
John F. Tate President America’s Liberty PAC |
| Melvin Adams Past President Renewanation |
James N. Clymer Former National Chairman Constitution Party |
| Kevin D. Freeman Founder NSIC Institute |
C. Preston Noell III President Tradition, Family, Property, Inc. |
| Charlie Gerow CEO Quantum Communications |
Kay R. Daly President Coalition for a Fair Judiciary |
| Ralph Benko Columnist |
Becky Gerritson President, Wetumpka TEA Party (AL) |
| Gerrye Johnston Founder/CEO, Men and Women for a Representative Democracy in America, Inc. |
Robert K. Fischer Meeting Coordinator Conservatives of Faith |
| Ralph A. Rebandt, II Lead Pastor / Chaplain, Oakland Hills Community Church/Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police |
Joseph A. Morris Morris & De La Rosa |
| Tricia Erickson President Angel Pictures & Publicity, Inc. |
Robert D. Thompson Former Administrator The Weyrich Lunch |
| Col Francis X. De Luca USMCR(Ret) President Civitas Institute |
Rick Manning President Americans for Limited Government |
| Tim Wildmon President American Family Association |
Lewis K. Uhler President National Tax Limitation Committee |
| Caroline Lewis Owner Percipio Communications |
Lisa Calvert Christian Speaker Rabon-Calvert Interests |
| James L. Martin Founder & Chairman 60 Plus Association |
Joe R. Calvert President Rabon-Calvert Interests |
| Gary Marx President Madison Strategies LLC |
Penny Pullen President Life Advocacy Resource Project |
| Barry Meguiar President Revival Outside the Walls |
Dan Weber Founder and President Association of Mature American Citizens |
| Bob Carlstrom President The Carlstrom Group, LLC |
Allen Hebert Chairman American-Chinese Fellowship of Houston |
| Dr. Gary Frazier Founder Discovery Missions International |
Robert Alt President & CEO The Buckeye Institute |
(All organizations listed for IDENTIFICATION purposes only)
Please feel free to reproduce, publish, or quote from this memo, or any part thereof. No attribution to the Conservative Action Project or any of the signers is necessary.
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