Banks Touts Court Pick, Chides PutinRep. Jim Banks joined other Republicans today in celebrating the apparent soon-to-be shift of the U.S. Supreme Court after President Donald Trump selected Brett Kavanaugh as his nominee to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Anthony Kennedy.
After Trump’s prime time announcement Monday, the 3rd District Congressman predicted Kavanaugh would uphold the Constitution, defend the right to life and respect religious liberty.
“I applaud President Trump for staying true to his word and picking an excellent jurist,” Banks said in a news release.
The choice – Trump’s second opportunity to pick nominees for the high court in less than two years – is nothing short of historic, Banks said.
On Monday, prior to the announcement, Banks expressed confidence that any of the four finalists Trump was considering would be a solid choice and “staunchly pro-life.”
He also said he does not think conservatives are over-reacting in their hopes that a shift on the court could lead to the demise of legal abortions, set forth in 1973 by Roe vs. Wade.
“I think it’s a defining moment whether it impacts Roe v. Wade or not,” Banks said Monday.
Potentially, Banks said he thinks another opening on the court could arrive during Trump’s first term and that the president could see at least one more opportunity during a second term if he wins re-election. Compare that to Trump’s most recent predecessors, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, who made two successful appointments each over their eight years in office and it’s clear that court appointments could become a major part of Trump’s legacy.
“It all goes back to one election, reminding us that elections matter,” he said.
Banks also addressed other current events involving Trump, including the evolving trade war that has resulted after Trump established various tariffs on other countries. Some of those countries, including China, have responded in kind, causing concern in several U.S. markets.
Banks met with representatives of Farm Bureau Monday who expressed concern over the impact on agricultural products, namely soybeans.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt it will have a negative impact on agriculture in the region,” Banks said.
He said he was one of three dozen Congressmen who signed a letter to Trump pointing out concern over the trade war.
Given the 3rd District’s prominent role in manufacturing, agriculture and steel, the circumstances leave Banks in a difficult position. Given the president’s broad authority on trade and use of tariffs, lawmakers have few options, but Banks said he’s signed on to a legislation that, if passed, would give Congress more control on such issues.
“As we enter into a trade war, the stakes are high on both sides,” Banks said. “I don’t see him backing down.”
Banks said lobbying by some orthopedic firms, including Zimmer Biomet, were successful in having medical devices taken off of products that would be applied to the tariffs
“That’s good for them, but we have a lot of other products, especially soybeans, that will be hit drastically.”
In other matters, the member of the House Armed Services committee offered thoughts on Trump’s upcoming trip to Europe where he’ll meet with other leaders of NATO and then later, a meeting with Russia’s president Vladimir Putin.
While Trump has ruffled diplomatic feathers of some leaders of NATO by demanding they boost their spending on NATO, Banks said he’s pleased with that strategy.
“I give the president a lot of credit because he’s been a force – more than any other in recent history – to raise the threshold and hold NATO countries accountable.”
A more balanced approach to NATO funding, he said, helps present “a stronger posture toward Russia.”
As for Russia, Banks is more critical about Trump’s comments on Russia and his unwillingness to condemn Russia’s involvement in U.S. elections.
Trump is scheduled to meet Putin in Helsinki.
“As a Russia hawk myself, I’m very skeptical about where those talks will lead. There’s a lot of reasons that the president shouldn’t trust Putin.”
But at the same time, he said he’s not opposed to Trump meeting with Putin in much the same way Trump met with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un.
Banks said recent suggestions by Trump that Putin is a “fine man’ are perplexing.
“I would disagree with the president’s sentiment when it comes to Russia,” he said.
