Why did Republicans fight so hard to keep Obama from filling D.C. Circuit vacancies?

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The D.C. Circuit handles federal regulation challenges worth billions. Environmental rules, labor policy, financial regulations all get appealed there. Four of nine current Supreme Court justices came from this bench. The court stood at 4-4, evenly divided. Republicans wanted to keep it that way. They claimed the court was overworked, even though the Judicial Conference unanimously recommended filling all vacancies. Obama's nominees would shift the balance to 7-4 Democratic appointees. That meant more environmental regulations upheld, more labor protections sustained, more financial rules enforced. Republicans blocked all three nominees. Reid went nuclear. All three were confirmed.

Why did Republicans fight so hard to keep Obama from filling D.C. Circuit vacancies?

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