podesta_email_09872.txt

podesta-emails 2,753 words email

P17 V11 V16 D2 P19

-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- mQQBBGBjDtIBH6DJa80zDBgR+VqlYGaXu5bEJg9HEgAtJeCLuThdhXfl5Zs32RyB I1QjIlttvngepHQozmglBDmi2FZ4S+wWhZv10bZCoyXPIPwwq6TylwPv8+buxuff B6tYil3VAB9XKGPyPjKrlXn1fz76VMpuTOs7OGYR8xDidw9EHfBvmb+sQyrU1FOW aPHxba5lK6hAo/KYFpTnimsmsz0Cvo1sZAV/EFIkfagiGTL2J/NhINfGPScpj8LB bYelVN/NU4c6Ws1ivWbfcGvqU4lymoJgJo/l9HiV6X2bdVyuB24O3xeyhTnD7laf epykwxODVfAt4qLC3J478MSSmTXS8zMumaQMNR1tUUYtHCJC0xAKbsFukzbfoRDv m2zFCCVxeYHvByxstuzg0SurlPyuiFiy2cENek5+W8Sjt95nEiQ4suBldswpz1Kv n71t7vd7zst49xxExB+tD+vmY7GXIds43Rb05dqksQuo2yCeuCbY5RBiMHX3d4nU 041jHBsv5wY24j0N6bpAsm/s0T0Mt7IO6UaN33I712oPlclTweYTAesW3jDpeQ7A ioi0CMjWZnRpUxorcFmzL/Cc/fPqgAtnAL5GIUuEOqUf8AlKmzsKcnKZ7L2d8mxG QqN16nlAiUuUpchQNMr+tAa1L5S1uK/fu6thVlSSk7KMQyJfVpwLy6068a1WmNj4 yxo9HaSeQNXh3cui+61qb9wlrkwlaiouw9+bpCmR0V8+XpWma/D/TEz9tg5vkfNo eG4t+FUQ7QgrrvIkDNFcRyTUO9cJHB+kcp2NgCcpCwan3wnuzKka9AWFAitpoAwx L6BX0L8kg/LzRPhkQnMOrj/tuu9hZrui4woqURhWLiYi2aZe7WCkuoqR/qMGP6qP EQRcvndTWkQo6K9BdCH4ZjRqcGbY1wFt/qgAxhi+uSo2IWiM1fRI4eRCGifpBtYK Dw44W9uPAu4cgVnAUzESEeW0bft5XXxAqpvyMBIdv3YqfVfOElZdKbteEu4YuOao FLpbk4ajCxO4Fzc9AugJ8iQOAoaekJWA7TjWJ6CbJe8w3thpznP0w6jNG8ZleZ6a jHckyGlx5wzQTRLVT5+wK6edFlxKmSd93jkLWWCbrc0Dsa39OkSTDmZPoZgKGRhp Yc0C4jePYreTGI6p7/H3AFv84o0fjHt5fn4GpT1Xgfg+1X/wmIv7iNQtljCjAqhD 6XN+QiOAYAloAym8lOm9zOoCDv1TSDpmeyeP0rNV95OozsmFAUaKSUcUFBUfq9FL uyr+rJZQw2DPfq2wE75PtOyJiZH7zljCh12fp5yrNx6L7HSqwwuG7vGO4f0ltYOZ dPKzaEhCOO7o108RexdNABEBAAG0Rldpa2lMZWFrcyBFZGl0b3JpYWwgT2ZmaWNl IEhpZ2ggU2VjdXJpdHkgQ29tbXVuaWNhdGlvbiBLZXkgKDIwMjEtMjAyNCmJBDEE EwEKACcFAmBjDtICGwMFCQWjmoAFCwkIBwMFFQoJCAsFFgIDAQACHgECF4AACgkQ nG3NFyg+RUzRbh+eMSKgMYOdoz70u4RKTvev4KyqCAlwji+1RomnW7qsAK+l1s6b ugOhOs8zYv2ZSy6lv5JgWITRZogvB69JP94+Juphol6LIImC9X3P/bcBLw7VCdNA mP0XQ4OlleLZWXUEW9EqR4QyM0RkPMoxXObfRgtGHKIkjZYXyGhUOd7MxRM8DBzN yieFf3CjZNADQnNBk/ZWRdJrpq8J1W0dNKI7IUW2yCyfdgnPAkX/lyIqw4ht5UxF VGrva3PoepPir0TeKP3M0BMxpsxYSVOdwcsnkMzMlQ7TOJlsEdtKQwxjV6a1vH+t k4TpR4aG8fS7ZtGzxcxPylhndiiRVwdYitr5nKeBP69aWH9uLcpIzplXm4DcusUc Bo8KHz+qlIjs03k8hRfqYhUGB96nK6TJ0xS7tN83WUFQXk29fWkXjQSp1Z5dNCcT sWQBTxWxwYyEI8iGErH2xnok3HTyMItdCGEVBBhGOs1uCHX3W3yW2CooWLC/8Pia qgss3V7m4SHSfl4pDeZJcAPiH3Fm00wlGUslVSziatXW3499f2QdSyNDw6Qc+chK hUFflmAaavtpTqXPk+Lzvtw5SSW+iRGmEQICKzD2chpy05mW5v6QUy+G29nchGDD rrfpId2Gy1VoyBx8FAto4+6BOWVijrOj9Boz7098huotDQgNoEnidvVdsqP+P1RR QJekr97idAV28i7iEOLd99d6qI5xRqc3/QsV+y2ZnnyKB10uQNVPLgUkQljqN0wP XmdVer+0X+aeTHUd1d64fcc6M0cpYefNNRCsTsgbnWD+x0rjS9RMo+Uosy41+IxJ 6qIBhNrMK6fEmQoZG3qTRPYYrDoaJdDJERN2E5yLxP2SPI0rWNjMSoPEA/gk5L91 m6bToM/0VkEJNJkpxU5fq5834s3PleW39ZdpI0HpBDGeEypo/t9oGDY3Pd7JrMOF zOTohxTyu4w2Ql7jgs+7KbO9PH0Fx5dTDmDq66jKIkkC7DI0QtMQclnmWWtn14BS KTSZoZekWESVYhORwmPEf32EPiC9t8zDRglXzPGmJAPISSQz+Cc9o1ipoSIkoCCh 2MWoSbn3KFA53vgsYd0vS/+Nw5aUksSleorFns2yFgp/w5Ygv0D007k6u3DqyRLB W5y6tJLvbC1ME7jCBoLW6nFEVxgDo727pqOpMVjGGx5zcEokPIRDMkW/lXjw+fTy c6misESDCAWbgzniG/iyt77Kz711unpOhw5aemI9LpOq17AiIbjzSZYt6b1Aq7Wr aB+C1yws2ivIl9ZYK911A1m69yuUg0DPK+uyL7Z86XC7hI8B0IY1MM/MbmFiDo6H dkfwUckE74sxxeJrFZKkBbkEAQRgYw7SAR+gvktRnaUrj/84Pu0oYVe49nPEcy/7 5Fs6LvAwAj+JcAQPW3uy7D7fuGFEQguasfRrhWY5R87+g5ria6qQT2/Sf19Tpngs d0Dd9DJ1MMTaA1pc5F7PQgoOVKo68fDXfjr76n1NchfCzQbozS1HoM8ys3WnKAw+ Neae9oymp2t9FB3B+To4nsvsOM9KM06ZfBILO9NtzbWhzaAyWwSrMOFFJfpyxZAQ 8VbucNDHkPJjhxuafreC9q2f316RlwdS+XjDggRY6xD77fHtzYea04UWuZidc5zL VpsuZR1nObXOgE+4s8LU5p6fo7jL0CRxvfFnDhSQg2Z617flsdjYAJ2JR4apg3Es G46xWl8xf7t227/0nXaCIMJI7g09FeOOsfCmBaf/ebfiXXnQbK2zCbbDYXbrYgw6 ESkSTt940lHtynnVmQBvZqSXY93MeKjSaQk1VKyobngqaDAIIzHxNCR941McGD7F qHHM2YMTgi6XXaDThNC6u5msI1l/24PPvrxkJxjPSGsNlCbXL2wqaDgrP6LvCP9O uooR9dVRxaZXcKQjeVGxrcRtoTSSyZimfjEercwi9RKHt42O5akPsXaOzeVjmvD9 EB5jrKBe/aAOHgHJEIgJhUNARJ9+dXm7GofpvtN/5RE6qlx11QGvoENHIgawGjGX Jy5oyRBS+e+KHcgVqbmV9bvIXdwiC4BDGxkXtjc75hTaGhnDpu69+Cq016cfsh+0 XaRnHRdh0SZfcYdEqqjn9CTILfNuiEpZm6hYOlrfgYQe1I13rgrnSV+EfVCOLF4L P9ejcf3eCvNhIhEjsBNEUDOFAA6J5+YqZvFYtjk3efpM2jCg6XTLZWaI8kCuADMu yrQxGrM8yIGvBndrlmmljUqlc8/Nq9rcLVFDsVqb9wOZjrCIJ7GEUD6bRuolmRPE SLrpP5mDS+wetdhLn5ME1e9JeVkiSVSFIGsumZTNUaT0a90L4yNj5gBE40dvFplW 7TLeNE/ewDQk5LiIrfWuTUn3CqpjIOXxsZFLjieNgofX1nSeLjy3tnJwuTYQlVJO 3CbqH1k6cOIvE9XShnnuxmiSoav4uZIXnLZFQRT9v8UPIuedp7TO8Vjl0xRTajCL PdTk21e7fYriax62IssYcsbbo5G5auEdPO04H/+v/hxmRsGIr3XYvSi4ZWXKASxy a/jHFu9zEqmy0EBzFzpmSx+FrzpMKPkoU7RbxzMgZwIYEBk66Hh6gxllL0JmWjV0 iqmJMtOERE4NgYgumQT3dTxKuFtywmFxBTe80BhGlfUbjBtiSrULq59np4ztwlRT wDEAVDoZbN57aEXhQ8jjF2RlHtqGXhFMrg9fALHaRQARAQABiQQZBBgBCgAPBQJg Yw7SAhsMBQkFo5qAAAoJEJxtzRcoPkVMdigfoK4oBYoxVoWUBCUekCg/alVGyEHa ekvFmd3LYSKX/WklAY7cAgL/1UlLIFXbq9jpGXJUmLZBkzXkOylF9FIXNNTFAmBM 3TRjfPv91D8EhrHJW0SlECN+riBLtfIQV9Y1BUlQthxFPtB1G1fGrv4XR9Y4TsRj VSo78cNMQY6/89Kc00ip7tdLeFUHtKcJs+5EfDQgagf8pSfF/TWnYZOMN2mAPRRf fh3SkFXeuM7PU/X0B6FJNXefGJbmfJBOXFbaSRnkacTOE9caftRKN1LHBAr8/RPk pc9p6y9RBc/+6rLuLRZpn2W3m3kwzb4scDtHHFXXQBNC1ytrqdwxU7kcaJEPOFfC XIdKfXw9AQll620qPFmVIPH5qfoZzjk4iTH06Yiq7PI4OgDis6bZKHKyyzFisOkh DXiTuuDnzgcu0U4gzL+bkxJ2QRdiyZdKJJMswbm5JDpX6PLsrzPmN314lKIHQx3t NNXkbfHL/PxuoUtWLKg7/I3PNnOgNnDqCgqpHJuhU1AZeIkvewHsYu+urT67tnpJ AK1Z4CgRxpgbYA4YEV1rWVAPHX1u1okcg85rc5FHK8zh46zQY1wzUTWubAcxqp9K 1IqjXDDkMgIX2Z2fOA1plJSwugUCbFjn4sbT0t0YuiEFMPMB42ZCjcCyA1yysfAd DYAmSer1bq47tyTFQwP+2ZnvW/9p3yJ4oYWzwMzadR3T0K4sgXRC2Us9nPL9k2K5 TRwZ07wE2CyMpUv+hZ4ja13A/1ynJZDZGKys+pmBNrO6abxTGohM8LIWjS+YBPIq trxh8jxzgLazKvMGmaA6KaOGwS8vhfPfxZsu2TJaRPrZMa/HpZ2aEHwxXRy4nm9G Kx1eFNJO6Ues5T7KlRtl8gflI5wZCCD/4T5rto3SfG0s0jr3iAVb3NCn9Q73kiph PSwHuRxcm+hWNszjJg3/W+Fr8fdXAh5i0JzMNscuFAQNHgfhLigenq+BpCnZzXya 01kqX24AdoSIbH++vvgE0Bjj6mzuRrH5VJ1Qg9nQ+yMjBWZADljtp3CARUbNkiIg tUJ8IJHCGVwXZBqY4qeJc3h/RiwWM2UIFfBZ+E06QPznmVLSkwvvop3zkr4eYNez cIKUju8vRdW6sxaaxC/GECDlP0Wo6lH0uChpE3NJ1daoXIeymajmYxNt+drz7+pd jMqjDtNA2rgUrjptUgJK8ZLdOQ4WCrPY5pP9ZXAO7+mK7S3u9CTywSJmQpypd8hv 8Bu8jKZdoxOJXxj8CphK951eNOLYxTOxBUNB8J2lgKbmLIyPvBvbS1l1lCM5oHlw WXGlp70pspj3kaX4mOiFaWMKHhOLb+er8yh8jspM184= =5a6T -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- MoveOn, PFAW, and Alliance for Justice Action Campaign released an ad and polling today that shows that most Americans want a Supreme Court nominee that defends ordinary Americans against the expansion of corporate rights. We hope to make sure that the unfolding debate over whoever the nominee is focuses on these questions, and not the wedge issues that the Republicans will try to drive. Americans deserve a new Justice who will fill Stevens shoes in fighting for individual rights and ordinary Americans. The NYTimes rejected the ad. We think they are being skittish about using logos of companies who advertise with them (of course, they won't say that). Here are some top line findings from the poll: Ø While the Supreme Court enjoys the respect of average voters, its standing is colored by a majority of voters who believe that the Court favors big corporations over individuals. Such views of the court are shared by Democrats and Republicans. Ø The perception of corporate bias is underscored by broad disagreement with many recent Supreme Court decisions, the *Citizens United* case among them. Ø By a 20-point margin, voters believe that when Senators evaluate the President’s nominee, they should focus on the nominee’s understanding of the impact that legal decisions have on the lives of everyday Americans, rather than focusing solely on the nominee’s experience and qualifications. A 61 percent majority of Democrats feel this way, as do 60 percent of Republicans. Ø Similarly, the most appealing description of a potential nominee tested in this survey is someone who will “be fair so that individuals and families get an impartial hearing and not give preferential treatment to powerful individuals and big corporations.” Here's a link to the poll memo: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=88214 Here's a link to the ad: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=88210 Full release below: * * *MoveOn.org Political Action* *People for The American Way* *Alliance** for Justice Action Campaign* * * *For Immediate Release: Contact: *** Friday, May 7, 2010 Doug Gordon (MoveOn) (202) 822-5200 x237 Miranda Blue (PFAW) (202) 467-4999 Kevin Fry (AFJ) (202) 822-6070 **** See The Ad: **http://www.moveon.org/r?r=88210 **** *New Provocative Ad Asks: “Is The Supreme Court Corporate America’s Newest Subsidiary?”* * * **** Ad Too Hot For New York Times: Company Refused To Run Ad **** * * A new ad, released today, asks the provocative question: “Is the Supreme Court corporate America’s newest subsidiary?” The ad, released by MoveOn.org Political Action, People For the American Way and Alliance for Justice Action Campaign, was rejected by the *New York Times* and will run in the *Washington Post* next week. You can see the ad here: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=88210 In addition to the ad, the groups also released a new poll from Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research that shows a majority of Americans—across party lines--believe that this Supreme Court favors big corporations over individuals. You can see the poll here: http://www.moveon.org/r?r=88214 On the eve of President Obama’s second nomination to the court, the ad and poll seek to steer the debate over the newest nominee away from Washington politics as usual and point out the growing corporatization of the Court. As the ad states, “recent rulings have allowed corporations to get away with paying women less than men, discriminating against the rights of older workers, dodging liability for faulty medical devices, ducking the Clean Water Act and avoid paying damages for the Exxon Valdez oil spill.” In addition, as the ad also states, this is no small matter because, “the Court will soon rule on consumer rights in bankruptcy, workplace protection against discrimination, the new health care law and a copyright rule that could dramatically increase consumer prices.” “We have seen the Roberts Court repeatedly put the expansion of corporations rights and powers over those of individuals,” said *Justin Ruben, Executive Director of MoveOn.org.* “Americans need someone to fill Justice Stevens’ shoes who will show the same conviction in fighting for the rights of the other 98% of America—who are working hard and trying to make ends meet. Our country must have a real debate over the issues that matter and the future of the Court. Not the politics as usual that has become the norm for Supreme Court nomination battles.” “On the eve of President Obama’s second pick to the Court our poll clearly shows that while the Supreme Court enjoys the respect of average voters, its standing is colored by a majority of voters who believe that the Court favors big corporations over individuals. This will likely be very important in the debate around the nominee and the future of the Court,” said *Anna Greenberg, Senior Vice President of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research.* * * “As we feared, it’s become clear that the Roberts Court is pushing a political agenda from the bench, putting the interests of big business over the rights of ordinary Americans,” said *Michael B. Keegan, President of People For the American Way.* “Our Constitution guarantees fair treatment for every American. We need a Supreme Court that agrees with that very fundamental principle.” "This poll shows clearly that people of all political viewpoints admire the Supreme Court but are concerned that it doesn't stand up for everyday Americans,” said *Nan Aron, President of Alliance for Justice Action Campaign.* “Large majorities, across the ideological spectrum, expressed serious misgivings about the Roberts Court's cases favoring corporate interests. The American people understand that the courts have an enormous impact on their lives and they expect the next justice will bring to the Court a standard of fairness that ensures that corporate interests do not get preferential treatment and that the rights of all Americans are protected equally." *MoveOn.org Political Action is a political action committee powered by 5 million progressive Americans. We believe in the power of small donors and grassroots action to elect progressive leaders to office and to advance a progressive agenda. We do not accept any donations over $5,000, and the average donation to MoveOn.org Political Action is under $100.* *AD TEXT:*** The United States Supreme Court was founded to protect the American people, not American big business. Yet recent rulings have allowed corporations to get away with paying women less than men, discriminating against the rights of older workers, dodging liability for faulty medical devices, ducking the Clean Water Act and avoid paying damages for the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Most alarmingly, the Court has also just declared that corporations have the same rights as people, with unlimited rights to pour money into electing corporate candidates who will protect their interests. Senator Charles Schumer declared of this ruling, “The bottom line is, the Supreme Court has just predetermined the winners of next November’s election. It won’t be the Republicans or the Democrats and it won’t be the American people: it will be Corporate America.” A Supreme Court designed to protect our citizens has instead expanded the rights of powerful companies, working through the radical right majority led by Justices Roberts and Alito. So much is at stake. A recent poll shows that the majority of Americans believe that this Supreme Court favors big corporations over individuals. The Court will soon rule on consumer rights in bankruptcy, workplace protection against discrimination, the new health care law and a copyright rule that could dramatically increase consumer prices. Justice Stevens was a staunch advocate for the rights of ordinary Americans, and his replacement must be too. Americans need a Justice who will dispense justice to Americans, not protect corporate profits at our expense. Paid for by moveon.org political action, political.moveon.org, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee, Moveon.org Political Action is responsible for the content of this advertising. *DOCUMENTATION:*** * * In 2007, in the case of Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. the Supreme Court: “held that, under Title VII, the female victim of decades of pay discrimination on the job who only learned of her biased treatment at the end of her career could not sue since the discrimination had begun more than 180 days before her court filing and the statute of limitations had therefore run. The four dissenters argued in vain that, given that Ledbetter was unaware that she was being paid less than men on the job, each discriminatory paycheck renewed the cause of action and the 180 days should be measured from the point at which she first learned of the salary double standard.” http://www.pfaw.org/media-center/publications/the-business-of-justice-how-the-supreme-court-putting-corporations-first “In 2009, in Gross v. FBL Financial Services (2009), the majority knocked the wind out of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act by ruling that age discrimination plaintiffs can no longer use the traditional "mixed motive" test from Title VII when bringing a case but must prove that age was the "but for" cause of their discriminatory treatment at the hands of an employer.” ( http://www.pfaw.org/media-center/publications/the-business-of-justice-how-the-supreme-court-putting-corporations-first) In 2008, Justices Roberts, Kennedy, Thomas, Souter and Scalia. reduced the punitive damage award from the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska from $2.5 billion to $507.5 million. ( http://www.pfaw.org/media-center/publications/the-business-of-justice-how-the-supreme-court-putting-corporations-first) In February 2010, according to *The New York Times*: “Thousands of the nation’s largest water polluters are outside the Clean Water Act’s reach because the Supreme Court has left uncertain which waterways are protected by that law, according to interviews with regulators.” ( http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/01/us/01water.html ) “In 2010, in Citizens United v. FEC, a case that dealt originally with the question of whether the electioneering communications provisions of the McCain-Feingold Act apply to "pay-per-view" movies produced by not-for-profit entities, five Justices on the Court, including the two named by President Bush himself--Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito--reached out to ask a question that had not been posed to them. They then answered it, announcing that private businesses – including for-profit corporations - have a right to spend as much money as they want to elect or defeat candidates in political campaigns at all levels. The decision reversed numerous Supreme Court precedents and toppled dozens of long-standing campaign finance laws at the federal and state level, clearing the field to permanently remake America's popular democracy into something like a "corporate democracy." On its central point, Justice Kennedy’s majority opinion was joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Alito, Thomas and Antonin Scalia.” http://www.pfaw.org/media-center/publications/the-business-of-justice-how-the-supreme-court-putting-corporations-first President Obama called the Citizens United ruling: “a major victory for big oil, Wall Street banks, health insurance companies and the other powerful interests that marshal their power every day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans.” ( http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/us/politics/22scotus.html?partner=rss&emc=rss) “"The bottom line is, the Supreme Court has just predetermined the winners of next November's election. It won't be the Republican or the Democrats and it won't be the American people; it will be corporate America," Senator Charles Schumer, a Democrat from New York, said.” ( http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60K3SK20100121 ) In his dissent around the Citizens United court ruling, Justice Stevens said: “"The court's ruling threatens to undermine the integrity of elected institutions around the nation." ( http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34822247/ns/politics-supreme_court/ ) According to *The New York Times*: ‘Pamela S. Karlan, a law professor at Stanford, said Thursday’s decision, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, was a telling indicator of the direction of the court. “This is a deeply divided court with a strong pro-corporate wing,”” ( http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/23/us/politics/23scotus.html ) According to *The New York Times: *“In a series of controversial cases about abortion, racial integration in schools, faith-based programs and the death penalty, the court’s four more conservative justices prevailed, with Justice Anthony M. Kennedy providing the crucial fifth vote. The four more liberal justices were often moved to dissent in unusually personal and vehement terms. “It is my firm conviction,” Justice John Paul Stevens wrote in the case striking down race-based enrollment policies in public schools, “that no Member of the Court that I joined in 1975 would have agreed with today’s decision.” ( http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/us/politics/22scotus.html?partner=rss&emc=rss) A recent poll shows that the majority of Americans believe that this Supreme Court favors big corporations over individuals. http://s3.moveon.org/pdfs/moveon The Supreme Court will soon rule on the following cases: *Ransom v. MBNA, America Bank* : “Whether, in calculating the debtor’s “projected disposable income” during the plan period, the bankruptcy court may allow an ownership cost deduction for vehicles only if the debtor is actually making payments on the vehicles.” http://www.scotuswiki.com/index.php?title=Ransom_v._MBNA%2C_America_Bank *Costco Wholesale v. Omega: *Whether the first-sale doctrine applies to imported goods manufactured abroad. If the Court holds that the “first sale doctrine” doesn’t apply to goods manufactured abroad, consumer prices on a wide range of goods will increase dramatically – and a copyright infringement would exist each time an ordinary consumer sells or gives away any copyrighted good or material with a copyright label that was manufactured abroad. *Kasten v. Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation*: “Is an oral complaint of a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act protected conduct under the anti-retaliation provision?” In this case, Kevin Kasten, who worked at a manufacturing facility in Wisconsin, made repeated oral complaints to his supervisor, in compliance with his company’s reporting procedures, that the company’s policy of not allowing employees to clock in when putting on their uniforms at the plan was illegal. During the same time, Kasten received an increased number of disciplinary warnings, a suspension, and eventual termination. Although federal law clearly prohibits retaliation toward an employee who has filed a written complaint about violations of fair labor laws, the Court will consider whether employees who make only oral complaints – even if doing so in accordance with company policy – are not protected from retaliatory discharge or discrimination. ( http://www.scotuswiki.com/index.php?title=Costco_v._Omega#Briefs_and_Documents) A group of State Attorney Generals has filed a federal lawsuit against the constitutionality of the individual mandate required in the recently passed health care reform legislation. The lawsuit claims: *“The Constitution nowhere authorizes the United States to mandate, either directly or under threat of penalty, that all citizens and legal residents have qualifying health care coverage.” **( http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/07/five-states-join-lawsuit-against-health-care-bill/?fbid=oTdH0IvHlxf)This case is expected to make its way to the Supreme Court. *And according to Talking Points Memo: “Note to President Obama's future Supreme Court nominee: get ready for questions about whether it's legal to mandate health insurance coverage. Conservatives geared up for a fight on the confirmation of Obama's choice to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens are increasingly saying they want to make health care the big issue.” ( http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/far-right-scotus-group-health-care-lawsuits-new-blood-for-confirmation-hearings.php) According to *The New York Times*: “Justice Stevens, the oldest and arguably most liberal justice, now finds himself the leader of the opposition. Vigorous and sharp at 87, he has served on the court for 32 years, approaching the record set by his predecessor, William O. Douglas, who served for 36. In criminal-law and death-penalty cases, Stevens has voted against the government and in favor of the individual more frequently than any other sitting justice.” ( http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/magazine/23stevens-t.html?_r=4 ) According to the Washington Post: “Americans of both parties overwhelmingly oppose a Supreme Court ruling that allows corporations and unions to spend as much as they want on political campaigns, and most favor new limits on such spending, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Eight in 10 poll respondents say they oppose the high court's Jan. 21 decision to allow unfettered corporate political spending, with 65 percent "strongly" opposed. Nearly as many backed congressional action to curb the ruling, with 72 percent in favor of reinstating limits.” ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/17/AR2010021701151.html?hpid=topnews) *# # #* *Gena Madow* Account Coordinator * FENTON | communications* 1000 Vermont Ave., NW Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 202.822.5200 Ext 245 202.789.7756 Direct www.fenton.com -- Ilyse G. Hogue Director of Political Advocacy and Communications MoveOn.org ph: 202-822-4780 x219 mobile: 202-731-2656 Hope is a feeling that life and work have meaning. You either have it or you don't, regardless of the state of the world that surrounds you. ----Vaclav Havel -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the "big campaign" group. To post to this group, send to [email protected] To unsubscribe, send email to [email protected] E-mail [email protected] with questions or concerns This is a list of individuals. It is not affiliated with any group or organization.