Monday, June 17, 2013

Supremes say state law does not override federal law


Supreme Court Justice Anthony "Fat Tony" Scalia
wrote the opinion overturning an Arizona law requiring proof of citizenship when registering to vote.
Arizona may not require documentary proof of citizenship from prospective voters, the Supreme Court ruled in a 7-to-2 decision on Monday.

Justice Antonin Scalia, writing for the majority in Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, No. 12-71, said a federal law requiring states to “accept and use” a federal form displaced an Arizona law.

The federal law, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, allows voters to register using a federal form that asks, “Are you a citizen of the United States?” Prospective voters must check a box for yes or no, and they must sign the form, swearing under the penalty of perjury that they are citizens.

The state law, by contrast, required prospective voters to prove that they were citizens by providing copies of or information concerning various documents, including birth certificates, passports, naturalization papers or Arizona driver’s licenses, which are available only to people who are in the state lawfully.
While not saying so, this ruling indicates that the Supremes will no look kindly on state level Teabaggers efforts to override federal law in other circumstances.

They also ruled against Big Pharma's attempts at price fixing with generic drug makers.

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