As COVID Cases Surpass 200,000 in Wisconsin, Sen. Johnson Confirms an Illegitimate Supreme Court Justice Instead of Delivering Relief to Wisconsinites

Monday, October 26, 2020

MADISON, Wis. —  Today, as COVID cases in Wisconsin surpassed 200,000, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) joined his fellow Senate Republicans in voting to appoint Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. In February 2016, after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, Senator Johnson said he strongly agreed "that the American people should decide the future direction of the Supreme Court by their votes for president."

Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh released the following statement in response to Johnson’s vote:

More than 200,000 Wisconsinites have battled COVID, more than 1,800 loved ones have been lost to the pandemic here, countless families are struggling to make ends meet, and all Sen. Johnson has done is push through the illegitimate confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Sen. Johnson’s vote for Barrett — who has all but guaranteed the rollback of key health care protections through the Court —  is a direct attack on Wisconsinites’ health care during a pandemic. He has spent his Senate career prioritizing special interests and corporate bailouts over Wisconsin families and working people, and his vote to confirm Barrett is a shameful political ploy to stack the Court with President Trump’s appointees and ensure the Supreme Court keeps putting corporate interests over the American people’s interests.” 

About Opportunity Wisconsin

Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents fighting for an economy that works for working people. Through our stories, we’re elevating the real consequences of the destructive economic policies championed by President Trump and his allies these past three years, and showing how they have made Wisconsin’s economy worse off. Join us in demanding our elected officials focus more on growing the economy for middle class folks and expanding opportunity for all Wisconsinites, not just the wealthy few. To learn more about Opportunity Wisconsin, visit OpportunityWisconsin.org or stay connected on Twitter at @OpportunityWI and on Facebook at Facebook.com/OpportunityWI.

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