On May 27, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its finalized Waters of the United States rule just over a year after it released its proposed rule. This rule was proposed to clarify the EPA’s jurisdiction over the nation’s waterways under the Clean Water Act after the Supreme Court’s decisions in Solid Waste Agency […]
Michigan v. EPA – SCOTUS Rules EPA Must Consider Costs in Initial Decision to Regulate
Date Thu, Jul. 23, 2015 - 2:16pm By Hamilton
Scalia, writing for the Court, stated that “[EPA] gave cost no thought at all, because it considered cost irrelevant to its initial decision to regulate,” he continued, writing, “It is unreasonable to read an instruction to an administrative agency to determine whether ‘regulation is appropriate and necessary’ as an invitation to ignore cost.” With that […]
Supreme Court Set to Revisit Class Action Standards
Date Fri, Jun. 26, 2015 - 9:32am By Hamilton
The U.S. Supreme Court recently granted certiorari to Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo, a case which has the potential to shake up the class action bar. The case revolves around a dispute raised by Tyson pork-processing workers from an Iowa plant who alleged they were underpaid for time spent putting on and taking off protective […]
U.S. Supreme Court Will Not Take Up John Doe Case – Decision Pending in Wisconsin Supreme Court
Date Sun, May. 31, 2015 - 7:44pm By Hamilton
As it relates to the current state of Wisconsin politics, the words “John Doe” have been omnipresent for what seems like Governor Walker’s entire tenure in office. The probe may be close to a conclusion as another challenge to the probe has been eliminated. In the spring of 2014 Eric O’Keefe, Executive Director of Wisconsin […]
Highest Court Denies to Hear Voter ID Challenge
Date Fri, Apr. 3, 2015 - 9:00am By Hamilton
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to take up a challenge to Wisconsin’s Voter ID law, ending the dispute and upholding the law that was passed in 2011. In June 2014, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued its long awaited opinions (League of Women Voters v. Walker and Milwaukee Branch of NAACP v. Walker) upholding Wisconsin’s controversial Voter ID […]
U.S. Supreme Court Makes Landmark Campaign Finance Decision
Date Fri, Apr. 4, 2014 - 9:38am By Hamilton
This week, the United States Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to in a campaign finance case (McCutcheon v. FEC) that struck down individual aggregate contribution limits to federal campaigns. The court ruled the contribution limits unconstitutional, on the grounds that contribution limits are a limit on free speech. Prior to this week’s ruling, a donor […]
Supreme Court Hears Case on Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Date Thu, Mar. 6, 2014 - 6:05pm By Hamilton
Supreme Court Hears Case Determining Scope of EPA’s Authority to Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions under Clean Air Act On Monday, February 24, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments for the case Utility Air Regulatory Group v. Environmental Protection Agency.This is the first case since the Court’s Massachusetts v. EPA opinion to address the EPA’s authority […]
SCOTUS Takes Up Major Greenhouse Gas Case
Date Thu, Oct. 24, 2013 - 8:56pm By Hamilton
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear an important case challenging the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from new and modified major stationary sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA). Background In April 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 U.S. 497 (2007), that greenhouse gases (GHG), including […]
Hospital/Health System CEO Roundtable: Health Reform after the Supreme Court
Date Mon, Jul. 30, 2012 - 4:10pm By Hamilton
Four of the state’s leading hospital and health system CEOs discussed health care reform in Wisconsin and the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act during a Wisconsin Health News lunch panel at the Madison Club on July 26, 2012. Panelists included: Dean Health System President and CEO Dr. […]
Wisconsin Legislative Council’s Analysis of the Supreme Court’s Healthcare Decision
Date Wed, Jul. 11, 2012 - 5:09pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Legislative Council has released an Information Memorandum describing relevant major provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and discussing the Supreme Court’s decision and its implications for Wisconsin. Excerpted below is the Council’s discussion of implications for Wisconsin. HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGEAs a result of the Court’s holding that the individual […]