Staff Reports
In a recent interview on Fox News Channel, Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana compared the actions of his Democratic colleagues in Congress to the antics seen in high school. He humorously remarked that Congress was “like high school except no one graduates.” According to Kennedy, some members of Congress will try to hurt their fellow colleagues if they disagree with their actions. Kennedy clarified that he doesn’t believe this applies to all of his colleagues, but he sees the Supreme Court ethics bill as a ploy by many Democrats to pursue their own partisan interests rather than true ethics.
.@SenJohnKennedy compared Congress and the tactics being used by his Democratic colleagues to teenage antics as Senate Republicans and Democrats split over a Supreme Court ethics bill, saying Congress is "like high school except no one graduates."https://t.co/vHJegaoA86
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 26, 2023
The legislation being referred to by Kennedy is a bill that aims to establish stricter ethical standards for the Supreme Court, including new requirements for financial disclosures and recusal in cases involving conflicts of interest. Reports of alleged unethical behavior by three justices, one liberal and two conservative, have prompted the push for this legislation. However, Kennedy, like many Senate Republicans, strongly opposes the bill, arguing that it is driven by partisan politics and an attempt to harm the Supreme Court.
Sen. @JohnKennedyLA: "Sometimes Congress is like high school except no one graduates."
"Some of my [Democrat] colleagues are angry at the Supreme Court…if they could, they would expand the Court. So once they can't do that, so instead they're going to try to destroy it." pic.twitter.com/xa5pNRnxZD
— GOP (@GOP) July 25, 2023
Democrats’ SCOTUS “ethics” bill is unconstitutional under Article III.
Under our separation of powers doctrine, Congress doesn’t have the power to write a code of ethics for the Supreme Court any more than the Supreme Court has the power to write a code of ethics for Congress. pic.twitter.com/HrWt9ddufF
— John Kennedy (@SenJohnKennedy) July 25, 2023
Kennedy accused some of his colleagues of being angry at the Supreme Court and wanting to harm it, pointing out their desire to expand the court as evidence. When unable to achieve that goal, they are now attempting to undermine the court through internal means, according to Kennedy. He also emphasized that the Supreme Court already has a code of conduct in place and questioned the constitutionality of the proposed legislation put forth by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.
Senator Kennedy expressed his belief that Congress does not have the authority to write a code of conduct for the Supreme Court, just as the Supreme Court does not have the right to write a code of ethics for Congress. As the debate over the Supreme Court ethics bill continues, Senate Republicans are confident that it will not pass the full chamber. Senate Democrats, however, are determined to push for a full vote. Given the filibuster and the need for nine Senate Republicans to support the bill in order for it to proceed to the Republican-controlled House, it seems unlikely that the legislation will ultimately become law.
