President Trump Makes Second Ask Of SCOTUS To Keep His Financials Secret | The Upcoming Sleeper Case On Obamacare
December 6, 2019
TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE
|Yesterday, PRESIDENT TRUMP asked the Supreme Court to hear a second case concerning a subpoena to his accounting firm for his financial records. The president has already petitioned SCOTUS to review a subpoena from Manhattan prosecutors, and yesterday’s petition objects to a subpoena from a House committee similarly compelling his accountants for his financials. The high court could announce as soon as December 13 whether it will weigh in on the cases.
A SCOTUS FIRST
|David Savage with the Los Angeles Times reports that today the high court will “consider for the first time whether the Constitution gives homeless people a right to sleep on the sidewalk.” He covers the appeal of a 9th Circuit ruling that found it was cruel and unusual punishment to enforce criminal laws against homeless people if a city doesn’t offer enough shelters to them.
I HATE YOU BUT I NEED YOU
|“PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP has made his contempt for judges known. But when it comes to his fights with the Democratic members of Congress, the courts and the unhurried wheels of justice have been his ally. Trump has been able to stall moves against him through multiple lawsuits, including as he refuses to turn over financial documents to the US House and prevents former administration officials from testifying.” That’s Joan Biskupic with CNN reviewing the president’s history with the court system and how he and his lawyers are trying to use it to his advantage as a vote for his impeachment draws closer.
HAT TRICK
|Ian Millhiser with Vox previews a trio of consolidated cases the Supreme Court will hear next week concerning the Affordable Care Act. He writes that although these cases aren’t existential threats to Obamacare — nor are they “the climax of a political circus that dominated front pages and cable news for months or even years” — they are still pretty huge considering there’s about $12 billion at stake.
TOP-ED
|Brian Yablonski and Jonathan Wood argue in The Hill that SCOTUS should side with property rights in the Montana pollution case heard earlier this week. They write, “This case is an important reminder that, rather than property rights and the environment being at odds, property rights are our most important tool for protecting the environment.”