The City Council Eyes Resolution Opposing Alito
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The New York City Council is considering a resolution opposing President Bush’s nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.
Council Member David Yassky, a Democrat of Brooklyn Heights who once served as a professor at Brooklyn Law School, introduced a resolution opposing President Bush’s nominee earlier this month. Hearings on the resolution have not been scheduled, but the council’s State and Federal Legislation Committee is expected to consider it in December.
“It’s now crystal clear that Judge Alito will move the Supreme Court far to the right,” Mr. Yassky said. The council member once served as an aide to Senator Schumer, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The Republican leader on the council, James Oddo of Staten Island, sharply criticized the idea of the council weighing in against Judge Alito. “It’s a shame a tree had to die to create the paper that this dopey resolution was written on,” Mr. Oddo said. “Sometimes this is what the City Council does best – resolutions outside of our purview. I’ve grown accustomed to it, unfortunately.”
Mr. Oddo said he thinks Judge Alito will make a “great” Supreme Court justice.
Nominated on October 31 after the withdrawal of Harriet Miers, Judge Alito will not appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee until early January. Mr. Yassky said he needed to introduce the resolution early so the council could vote on it before the Senate decides.
“It’s important that the Senate hear from people out in the country,” Mr. Yassky said. “I think it’s important for us to send a message.”
The resolution comes less than a month after council members introduced bills calling for the withdrawal of American troops in Iraq. Some have criticized such resolutions, which have no force or effect, as being outside the council’s purview. Mr. Yassky defended his bill, saying a Supreme Court nomination is relevant to city governance.
“I’m very focused on New York City,” Mr. Yassky said. “I think what the Supreme Court does has a huge impact on my constituents.”
Mr. Yassky said he expected his measure to have “overwhelming support” if it comes to a vote before the traditionally liberal City Council. The resolution has the backing of the chamber’s majority leader, Joel Rivera, who heads the legislation committee that will vote on it next month.
A spokesman for Mayor Bloomberg said the mayor doesn’t comment on council resolutions, and Mr. Bloomberg has not publicly stated his position on Judge Alito. The mayor did, however, oppose the nomination of John Roberts to be chief justice, saying that he was concerned the judge would not vote to uphold Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion ruling.