WASHINGTON - Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said Friday he will oppose Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, saying he is not convinced that Alito will bring an impartial viewpoint to the court.

Wyden, a Democrat, met with Alito on Wednesday and talked about executive power, legal precedents and abortion rights.

“I cannot reconcile the seemingly moderate and amiable jurist of the past few weeks” with Alito's two-decade record as a federal appeals court judge and official in the Reagan and Bush administrations, Wyden said Friday.

“It is my conclusion that Judge Alito's record portends a view on the power of the president that would undermine our proven and constitutionally-mandated system of checks and balances,” Wyden said.

“His record demonstrates a dangerous and narrow interpretation of the commerce clause (of the Constitution), which could lead to results that would threaten the health and safety of all Americans.”

Wyden also criticized Alito for “standing with large, corporate polluters who fouled our air, poisoned our waters, and then don't want to pay for it.”

Wyden is the latest among a growing number of Democrats who say they will oppose Alito, a veteran appeals court judge from New Jersey. Wyden voted for Chief Justice John Roberts last fall.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote Tuesday on Alito's nomination to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, with the full Senate voting after that. Alito is widely expected to be confirmed by the Republican-controlled chamber.

Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., has said he expects to vote for Alito, calling him “supremely qualified.”