PA Bill Number: HB917

Title: Adopting the Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act.

Description: Adopting the Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act. ...

Last Action: Presented to the Governor

Last Action Date: Apr 29, 2024

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Gun Owners of America leads coalition opposing Lynch confirmation :: 04/20/2015

Predicting that confirmation of Loretta Lynch for Attorney General will constitute “the Supreme Court’s fifth vote in waiting,” Gun Owners of America posted an alert Thursday urging members and supporters to contact their senators, especially Republicans, to oppose the nomination process “at every step.” The key, GOA asserts, will be if Majority Leader Mitch McConnell requires the Lynch nomination to “clear a 60-vote hurdle ... rather than just passing with a mere 51-vote majority.”

Cloture, known in the Senate as Rule 22, “is the only formal procedure that Senate rules provide for breaking a filibuster.” In a letter sent to Senator McConnell on Monday by a coalition of gun rights leaders, he was reminded Senate rules established under Harry Reid still apply.

The danger is heightened by a group “of senators who could use extra prodding,” including Republicans Jeff Flake, Mark Kirk, Susan Collins, Dean Heller, Lindsey Graham and Orrin Hatch (R-UT). Also included are three Democrats, one of whom has felt gun owner wrath for a perceived betrayal of past support with his “background check” bill, Joe Manchin.

“Please do not use the Lynch nomination to tell us that, whoever nominally controls the Senate in 2017, Harry Reid and/or Chuck Schumer will continue to control it in fact. To do so would signal that the 2016 Senate elections don't matter,” the coalition letter petitions. “Please require that Loretta Lynch receive 60 votes in order for cloture to be invoked on her nomination.”

Noting that “gun rights [are] on the chopping block as early as next week,” GOA is asking supporters to “Urge your senators, especially if they are Republicans, to OPPOSE the Loretta Lynch nomination at every step. And circulate this alert to your pro-gun family and friends as well.”

In a related development, the National Rifle Association launched its own campaign opposing the Lynch nomination and asking members to contact their senators, albeit the announcement does not indicate if the vote will be scored. As endorsed Senators Flake, Graham and Hatch were the Republican votes allowing her to clear the Senate Judiciary Committee, gun owners can remind them of NRA’s stated opposition.