NFIB offers U.S. Senate Committee on Judiciary an appraisal of the nominee for associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Congress called on NFIB last week to offer testimony on the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court, an acknowledgement of how the high court’s decisions affect small business.
Karen Harned, executive director of the NFIB Small Business Legal Center, appeared before the Senate on Thursday, March 23, to testify in favor of Gorsuch’s confirmation. Small businesses have struggled with years of executive overreach in Congress and the courts, and they have a big stake in the next Supreme Court Justice.
“After reviewing Judge Gorsuch’s articles, decisions, and public statements, we are pleased to see a judge who both applies the actual text of the law and the original meaning of that text at the time it became law, rather than changing it to fit his personal views and preferences,” said Harned during her testimony.
NFIB has been the most proactive voice for small business on the SCOTUS seat, publicly supporting the Gorsuch nomination and rallying nearly 3,000 business owners to send more than 8,000 messages to their representatives in favor of Gorsuch.
Learn more about NFIB’s efforts on SCOTUS >>
In Harned’s testimony, she cited three major qualities of Judge Gorsuch’s previous rulings that should be favorable to small businesses: clear opinions, respect for the separation of powers, and a willingness to tackle difficult legal questions without flinching.
Harned was specifically referring to Judge Gorsuch’s skepticism of the Chevron doctrine, “Although generally unknown to average Americans, the Chevron doctrine has been a key culprit in the vast expansion of the administrative state, which permeates virtually every aspect of our daily lives,” Harned testified. “For small businesses, in particular, this doctrine has been quite problematic.” Toward the end of her testimony, Harned emphasized how Judge Gorsuch’s defense of the separation of powers would benefit the vitality of small businesses throughout the country. “When the system erodes or functions less perfectly, there is an adverse impact on small business and our nation’s economy,” said Harned. “Small businesses, like every American, have an important stake in who fills justice Antonin Scalia’s seat. NFIB is pleased to support the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court.” Thursday’s hearings marked the fourth day of Judge Gorsuch’s confirmation hearing. A full Senate vote on his confirmation is scheduled for Friday, April 7.
