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State attorneys general push for generic drug legislation 

Published: May 18, 2012

Tags: Congress, failure to warn, PLIVA v. Mensing, Supreme Court

WASHINGTON – State attorneys general are urging Washington lawmakers to pass a bill that would allow generic drug makers to face the same liability as brand name drug companies for failing to include adequate warnings on drug labels.

Bill to temporarily extend bankruptcy judgeships passes 

Published: May 16, 2012

Tags: bankruptcy court, bankruptcy judges

WASHINGTON – Congress has passed legislation that will temporarily save dozens of bankruptcy judgeships in 14 states and Puerto Rico from expiring.

Federal court strikes down NLRB union election rule 

Published: May 15, 2012

Tags: NLRB, President Obama, quorum, recess appointment, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, union election

WASHINGTON – A federal court has struck down new labor union election regulations, ruling that the National Labor Relations Board violated voting procedures when it voted to approve the rules.

Farm sale income tax not dischargeable in bankruptcy 

Published: May 14, 2012

Tags: Bankruptcy, Chapter 12, discahrge, farms, Supreme Court

The federal income tax liability resulting from the sale of a farm after a Chapter 12 bankruptcy filing is not “incurred by the estate” under §503(b) of the Bankruptcy Code and thus is neither collectible nor dischargeable in the bankruptcy plan, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled.

Lawmaker renews push on sexual orientation bias bill 

Published: May 10, 2012

Tags: Employment Non-Discrimination Act, gender identity discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination

WASHINGTON – One day after President Barack Obama said in a television interview that he believes same-sex couples should be allowed to marry, the chairman of a Senate committee on workplace issues called for a hearing on the long-stalled Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Obama voices support for same-sex marriage 

Published: May 10, 2012

Tags: gay marriage, Obama, same-sex marriage, Supreme Court

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama said he believes same-sex couples should be able to marry, becoming the first U.S. president to publicly endorse gay marriage.

Previously, Obama voiced support only for same-sex civil unions.

Lawmakers call for NLRB member’s resignation 

Published: May 9, 2012

Tags: Congress, ethics, National Labor Relations Board

WASHINGTON – Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, has joined another member of Congress in calling for National Labor Relations Board member Terence Flynn to resign after reports that he violated ethics rules by disclosing confidential information to two former Board members.

Federal agencies: FCRA is constitutional 

Published: May 9, 2012

Tags: Congress, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, consumer protection, credit reporting agencies, Department of Justice, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Federal Trade Commission, Supremem Court

WASHINGTON – In a joint brief filed in a Pennsylvania district court case challenging the Fair Credit Reporting Act, three federal agencies have urged the court to find the law constitutional.

EEOC transgender ruling could allow gay bias claims 

By: Kimberly Atkins
Published: May 8, 2012

Tags: employment discrimination, gender bias, sexual orientation, Title VII, transgender bias

WASHINGTON – The recent ruling from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission holding that transgendered workers can bring employment bias claims under Title VII is a “game changer” in employment discrimination law, and could lead to claims under the Act based on sexual orientation.

IOM: FDA needs better drug monitoring system 

Published: May 8, 2012

Tags: drug safety, FDA, PLIVA v. Mensing

WASHINGTON – The Institute of Medicine has urged the Food and Drug Administration to adopt a more comprehensive system of monitoring drugs on the market so that the agency can better react to post-market safety issues.