Press Releases

The U.S. Supreme Court decision today affirmed the constitutional right of Congress to establish a personal mandate for insurance, the key element of the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act was a significant undertaking. The Obama administration worked to bring together all the parties in our current system: consumers, insurers, providers, health care facilities, and employers. Congress held lengthy debates and difficult votes. The Affordable Care Act is an important first step toward true health care reform.

Today, 132 Members of Congress delivered a letter to United States Trade Ambassador Ron Kirk pressing him to support transparency and openness in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. The Members called for stronger congressional consultations and access to documents, and greater public transparency on the proposals.

Today?s 5-4 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court rejecting the right of the state of Montana to restrict the unlimited spending by corporations and other groups in political campaigns will only continue and extend the corrupting influence of corporate money in politics.

Today?s ruling by US District Court Judge Terry Means is a disgrace and a travesty of justice for 10,000 passenger service agents at American Airlines. The Court, despite a clear reiteration of congressional intent by the Senate authors of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization, determined that the 50 percent showing of interest standard should apply to agents who have been waiting for months for their lawful, democratic vote.