Pa. Activists Voice Message For Senator Regarding Supreme Court Vacancy

By Cherri Gregg

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A few dozen protesters rallied outside of Senator Toomey's Center City office Thursday.

They held signs with the hashtag #DoYourJob demanding that Toomey agree to at least consider an Obama nomination to country's high court.

"It would be over 340 days that that seat would sit empty," says Maggie Groff who works for Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania. The Supreme Court heard arguments this week in a Texas abortion rights case, but with only eight justices on the bench, there's a chance of a tied decision.

"Senator Toomey should be doing his job, there's no reason why they should let that vacancy go," says Groff.

"This is really just to score political points," says Ernest Owens, a board member of Equality Pennsylvania. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is preparing to file a case dealing with the issue of LGBT discrimination. Currently, there is no federal law that bans discrimination against the LGBT community in employment, housing or accommodations. Efforts to pass an anti-discrimination bill in Pennsylvania have stalled.

"We have not been able to get our bills passed because of gridlock by Republicans on the state and federal level," says Owens, "we want to push these issues to the forefront and are hoping that President Obama can nominate an appointee so we can deal with these issues."

Equality PA, as well as representatives from Action United and Penn Environment joined protesters in demanding that Toomey stand against the Washington gridlock.

Insiders predict President Obama could nominate a Supreme Court appointee later this month.

Senator Toomey's office says he appreciates feedback from constituents.