WASHINGTON, April 6 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Thursday after Senate Republicans voted to change Senate rules to allow the confirmation of Judge Neil Gorsuch and all other Supreme Court justices by simple-majority vote:

“I am deeply disappointed that Republicans changed the rules so that they could push through their nominee with fewer than 60 votes. A lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be done in a bipartisan way, but unfortunately Mitch McConnell chose to do it in an extremely partisan manner. Further, I am deeply concerned about the role that Judge Gorsuch will play on the Supreme Court. I fear very much that he will be part of an extreme right-wing majority that will attack workers’ rights, women’s rights and environmental protection as well as make our political system less democratic.”