Business looks to Kavanaugh to extend Supreme Court hot streak

[DonViejo]

By LORRAINE WOELLERT 08/15/2018 05:09 AM EDT

Abortion rights and civil liberties have so far dominated the fight over Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court, but his confirmation would mean a victory for another constituency: business.

Industry groups, led by the Chamber of Commerce, have spent decades bringing lawsuits and filing briefs to the top court in hopes of reining in regulatory power and winning rulings favorable to business. And court-watchers believe Kavanaugh, who was recommended to President Donald Trump by the conservative Federalist Society and worked in the pro-business Bush administration, would help industry continue its hot streak at the court.

The Supreme Court last term was the most business-friendly in modern memory, according to the Constitutional Accountability Center, a progressive public-interest law firm. The group concluded in a new report that Kavanaugh would tilt the court even more in business’ favor, noting that the high court under Chief Justice John Roberts already has sided with the Chamber, which the center views as a proxy for all business interests, in more than 70 percent of relevant cases since 2006.

That’s in contrast to the Chamber’s 56 percent win record under Roberts’ predecessor, Chief Justice William Rehnquist, and 43 percent under Chief Justice Warren Burger, according to the center.

Kavanaugh would replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy, who was generally a reliable supporter of corporate interests, though he was viewed as the court’s swing vote. Progressives and business groups alike believe Kavanaugh would give industry a solid fifth vote in favor of reining in regulations governing the environment, workplace safety and consumer protections.

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https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/15/kavanaugh-business-supreme-court-confirm-777515