Letter: Grassley right to trust American people

I would like to commend Sen. Chuck Grassley for his commitment to give the voters a voice in the direction of our Supreme Court.

In the midst of this politically charged presidential campaign, the stakes are higher than ever. Sen. Grassley and Senate Republicans recognize the United States Senate is not required to rubber stamp nominees and orders from the president. Those who claim Sen. Grassley is ignoring constitutional duties are misrepresenting facts for political expediency. The Senate is granted authority, through the Constitution, of advice and consent. This includes a prerogative to not take any action on a nominee if they so choose.

Furthermore, there is a clear tradition against nomination of a justice during a presidential election year. In a 1992 speech then-Sen. Joe Biden - a Democrat - said if a Supreme Court justice resigned that summer, President George H.W. Bush should not nominate a replacement because that year's presidential election would politicize the process.

Sen. Grassley understands this reality, and is rightly choosing to remove politics from the matter and protect the integrity of the constitutional process. I am glad our senior Senator is taking the high ground, even in the face or unwarranted criticism.

Del Block

Cedar Rapids