In a spasm of suits, the United States Department of Justice challenged four states’ policies that blocked the feds’ use of confidential license plates. Last week, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced the Registry of Motor Vehicles would not provide Immigration & Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection with civilian plates to conceal their civil immigration operations.
There were four concurring opinions, two dissents, and a majority opinion that had only three votes in parts. Nevertheless, a solid six justices said Trump lacked the power to impose these tariffs. The Bay State’s electeds welcomed the ruling and blasted Trump for instituting them in the first place.
Given a review of recent history in Springfield, 2025 may have expressed the disgruntlement many expected in 2023. However, the reasons may not be particular to the City of Homes. A foul wind from Washington was blowing and perhaps coloring the municipal electorate as much as anything. Courts also played a larger role in the city’s political fortunes than they had in years.
On August 29 Judge Richard Leon dealt a blow to the efforts of Springfield and other municipalities to recover billions Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency illegally rescinded. As had seemed likely after a Supreme Court ruling days before, Leon found that he lacked jurisdiction over the claims and therefore dismissed the case.
Earlier this year, the EPA essentially refused to disburse billions in the Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants
SCOTUS dealt a potential blow to efforts to recover grants that Donald Trump’s administration had swiped from Springfield and other municipalities. In a fractured ruling, five of the nine Supremes stayed an order that had required the National Institutes of Health to restore grant funding. The ruling, in effect, said recovery of the funds did not belong in US District Court.
With the clock possibly ticking down on his party’s majority, a Washington appeals court has ruled House Ways & Means Chairman Richard Neal has a right to Donald Trump’s tax returns. The decision was the latest turn in a three year quest to obtain the real estate tycoon and provocateur’s tax records.
It cannot be said more plainly. The Supreme Court has discredited itself. Its conservative majority has overreached and abused its role and the solemn respect the institution has accumulated over time. The evidence for this is not merely overturning Roe v. Wade. I
SPRINGFIELD—Some supporters of Quentin Palfrey are drawn to his emphasis of civil rights. Others like his stance on health care or climate. Many agree with his alarm about outside money in the race. Those positions, he says, show he is the most progressive candidate for attorney general. Yet, a unifying them may be something he shares with the woman he hopes to succeed: time in the office.