Report: Alito has pro-business record

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel Alito has a 15-year judicial record that favors large corporations, the New York Times reported Saturday.

President Bush's choice to replace retiring Judge Sandra Day O'Connor on the high court cast the decisive vote in a case involving a major steel company, and ruled for a large chemical maker over environmentalists in pollution cases.

The newspaper said major business groups are preparing to spend millions of dollars to lobby on Alito's behalf before his Jan. 9 Senate confirmation hearings.

"He has come down on a host of issues in a way that the business community would prefer," said Robin Conrad, senior vice president of the National Chamber Litigation Center, the legal arm of the United States Chamber of Commerce, who has been researching Alito's opinions.

Liberal groups, meanwhile, have begun citing his record to make the case that he is insensitive to the plight of minorities and the environment.