Crapo, Risch plan to vote against Sotomayor

By :GREGORY FOLEY

Idaho Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch have announced that they plan to vote against the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.

Both Crapo, Idaho's senior senator, and Risch said they are concerned about Sotomayor's interpretation of the Second Amendment to the Constitution, which outlines the right to bear arms.

Crapo said Sotomayor's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee that questioned her was "evasive and lacked substance." And, he said, Sotomayor "rejects" the idea that all Americans have the right to bear arms.

Risch said: "There is no question she is a genuinely nice, smart and well-intentioned person. However, her belief and pronouncement that the Second Amendment is not a fundamental right is something I cannot accept.  Her answers to questions on the use of foreign law to interpret our Constitution did nothing to ease my concern that she would not look to the laws of other countries when interpreting the Constitution. That should not happen under any circumstance."

The committee voted 13-6 today to send the question of Sotomayor's confirmation to the full Senate. A final vote is expected by Aug. 7.