Law

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), along with Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (MI-14) and Representatives Steve Cohen (TN-09), Mel Watt (NC-12), Bill Delahunt (MA-10), Linda Sanchez (CA-39) and Hank Johnson (GA-04), introduced the Civil Access to Justice Act of 2009.

The main purpose of this legislation is to reauthorize the Legal Services Corporation Act, which has not been reauthorized by Congress since 1977. A companion bill was introduced by Senator Tom Harkin (IA) earlier this year.    » read more »

Sept. 30, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, eleven public health and consumer advocacy organizations filed a friend of the court (amicus) brief asking a federal court to reject a lawsuit by R.J. Reynolds, Lorillard and other tobacco companies that seeks to block key provisions of the new federal law regulating tobacco products. The immediate issue before the court is the industry’s challenge of a provision that requires FDA approval before tobacco companies can make claims about “modified risk tobacco products.”

The tobacco companies have also challenged other marketing restrictions in the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which authorizes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate the manufacturing, marketing and sale of tobacco products.    » read more »

Groups call for enactment of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) to oversee shifting credit card practices

September 28, 2009 -- Washington, DC – A Consumer Action and Consumer Federation of America analysis of recent credit card industry practices found that card issuers are using a variety of costly, unfair tactics that will not be eliminated under an impending new law. These expensive and exploitive practices demonstrate the need for ongoing oversight of the credit card industry by a new consumer agency.

Card issuers are also hitting consumers with charges that will be forbidden under the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which takes effect in February, 2010.    » read more »

WASHINGTON -- September 29, 2009 – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday announced that the Committee will hold a hearing to examine two Supreme Court decisions that have made it more difficult for workers to take employers to court for civil rights violations and, once there, more difficult for victims to prove workplace discrimination.

The hearing will focus on Circuit City v. Adams, which extended the scope of the Federal Arbitration Act to cover employment contracts, and Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc., a recent decision that made it more difficult to prove age discrimination in the workplace. A narrowly divided Supreme Court issued 5-4 decisions in both cases.    » read more »

September 30, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today highlighted a number of new state laws that take effect October 1, including significant new protections for victims of identity theft, increased rights for residents of nursing homes and an expansion of the “bottle bill” to require deposits on containers of water and flavored waters.

A fourth new law permits the establishment of enforceable trusts so that pet owners can ensure the care of their animals after their death.    » read more »

Focusing On Improving Child And Family Safety, Expanding Health Coverage And Promoting Hospital Accountability; Vetoes 18 Bills Representing $28 Million in Savings Over Next Two Years

September 17, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today signed 60 bills that together will improve the safety of families and children; increase access to, and quality of, health care for New Yorkers; and increase accountability among government contractors. Additionally, he vetoed 18 bills that, if signed, would have cost State taxpayers $28 million dollars over the next two years.    » read more »

September 15, 2009 -- Washington – Today, a collection of more than 600 conservation, outdoor, sportsmen, recreation and faith groups representing tens of millions of individuals all across the country called on the Senate to pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation that not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions, but also dedicates a significant portion of funding towards helping wildlife and natural resources that are currently threatened by global warming.    » read more »

Sept. 15, 2009 -- PITTSBURGH – The United Steelworkers (USW) today said President Obama’s decision to impose tariffs on Chinese consumer tires was simply a matter of enforcing existing trade laws.

“It’s our union’s responsibility to defend our members and to do it in a way that is within the law and that’s what we have done,” USW International President Leo W. Gerard said. “We’re not against trade. We want a level playing field.

"President Obama rightly rejected groundless retaliation threats and imposed relief based on the merits of this case." The President correctly explained today that "enforcing trade agreements is part and parcel of maintaining an open and free trading system," said Gerard.    » read more »

Mikulski led Senate fight to pass new law protecting equal work for equal pay

15-Sep-2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today praised the recent use of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to protect equal work for equal pay. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals recently used the new law to hold that a Title VII claim was erroneously dismissed on the basis that the claim was not filed in a timely manner.

“This decision does exactly what the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was signed into law to do-- right a terrible wrong,” said Senator Mikulski, the lead sponsor of the bill who fought for its passage on the Senate floor.    » read more »

August 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—James M. Davis, 60, the former chief financial officer of Houston-based Stanford Financial Group (SFG), pleaded guilty today to fraud and obstruction charges related to a $7 billion scheme to defraud investors, Lanny A. Breuer, Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division, and Tim Johnson, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, announced.

Davis was charged in a criminal information, filed on June 18, 2009, with conspiracy to commit mail, wire and securities fraud; mail fraud; and conspiracy to obstruct a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation. The criminal information also seeks forfeiture of up to $1 billion in fraud proceeds.    » read more »

Focusing On Protecting Children And Families, Encouraging Economic And Job Development; Vetoes 14 Bills Representing More than $5.4 Million in Savings for 2009-10

August 27, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson this week signed a total 68 bills that together will lead to economic and job development opportunities for New Yorkers; keep children and families safer; and ensure that the State’s roads are more secure. Additionally, he vetoed 14 bills that, if signed, would have cost taxpayers some $5.4 million dollars.    » read more »

Court Grants Temporary Restraining Order

August 31, 2009 -- CONCORD - New Hampshire Governor John Lynch today announced that the New Hampshire Department of Justice went to court this afternoon in an attempt to protect the rights of the 131 workers of Precision Technology in Pembroke. In response to the state’s action, a judge has issued a temporary restraining order.

This afternoon Merrimack County Superior Court Judge Bruce Mohl issued a temporary restraining order against the company, preventing the transfer of assets of Precision Technology until a formal hearing is held. A hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 10, at 10:30 a.m.    » read more »

Law builds on recommendations of Governor's Public Integrity Task Force, answers calls to renew confidence in government

BOSTON – July 1, 2009 – Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, joined by House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray, today signed sweeping ethics, lobbying and campaign finance reform legislation that institutes a strong ban on gifts to public officials, increases penalties for civil and criminal violations of ethics laws and expands the investigative and enforcement powers of a number of state authorities.

Coming directly on the heels of landmark changes to the state's pension and transportation systems, the law delivers on promises made by the Governor to restore public trust in government by bringing real reform to Beacon Hill.    » read more »

June 23, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Dick Lugar released the following statement on the nomination of Harold Koh to be Legal Adviser to the State Department. The Senate will have a cloture vote tomorrow on the nomination:    » read more »

As Prepared

June 23, 2009 -- "I thank Senator Menendez and Senator Schumer for their outstanding statements to the Senate today. As I review Judge Sotomayor’s record in preparation for her confirmation hearing on July 13, I am struck by her extraordinary career and how she has excelled at everything she has done. I know how proud her mother Celina is of her accomplishments.    » read more »