THE BAY CITIZEN

Area Reps Say Justice Thomas Can't Rule on Health Law

By Aaron Glantz|February 10, 2011 11:20 a.m. | 

Seven local congresspeople are among 75 Democratic House members who wrote to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to ask him to recuse himself from deliberations on the constitutionality of health care reform. 

Most observers anticipate that the closely watched case will end up on the Supreme Court docket in 2012, just ahead of the next presidential election. So far, two federal district court judges have ruled the law constitutional and two have said a provision that requires individuals to purchase health insurance or pay a fine represents congressional over-reach.  

According to the letter, Thomas' spouse, Virginia Thomas, has financial ties to organizations dedicated to lobbying against the health care reform bill.

"Your spouse is advertising herself as a lobbyist who has 'experience and connections' and appeals to clients who want a particular decision - they want to overturn health care reform. Moreover, your failure to disclose Ginny Thomas’s receipt of $686,589 from the Heritage Foundation, a prominent opponent of health care reform, between 2003 and 2007, has raised great concern," the letter said.

Ms. Thomas currently heads a lobbying organization called Liberty Consulting, which is summarized as follows on the company's website:

"With the new ascendancy of constitutional conservatism, Liberty Consulting and Virginia Thomas will continue to serve as a visionary insider who sees political threats, opportunities and can marshal resources to restore our nation's founding principles."

Bay Area representatives signing the letter include: Anna Eshoo (D-Atherton), John Garamendi (D-Walnut Creek), Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), George Miller (D-Martinez), Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma), Mike Honda (D-Santa Clara) and Pete Stark (D-Fremont).

It was spearheaded by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY).

Source: http://www.baycitizen.org/blogs/pulse-of-the-bay/bay-area-reps-say-justice-thomas-cant/