Scalia breaks ranks, slams Bush officials on bank regulation

Scalia breaks ranks, slams Bush officials on bank regulation

By Kevin G. Hall | McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON — In a rebuke of the Bush administration, the Supreme Court ruled Monday that a federal bank regulator erred in quashing efforts by New York state to combat the kind of predatory mortgage lending that triggered the nation's financial crisis.

The 5-4 ruling by the high court was unusual. Justice Antonin Scalia, arguably the most conservative jurist, wrote the majority's opinion and was joined by the court's four liberal judges.

The five justices held that contrary to what the Bush administration had argued, states can enforce their own laws on matters such as discrimination and predatory lending, even if that crosses into areas under federal regulation.

Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for the four dissenters, argued that laws dating back to the nation's founding prevent states from meddling in federal bank regulation. He was joined by Chief Justice John G. Roberts and justices Anthony Kennedy and Samuel Alito.

The ruling angered many in the financial sector, who fear it'll lead to a patchwork of state laws that'll make it harder for banks and other financial firms to take a national approach to the marketplace.

more...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/70985.html

Thomas actually pulled his nose out of Fat Tony's butt crack? And Fat Tony voted with the Godless lib'ruls? It appears somebody put blotter acid in their crumpets this week.

blotter acid and crumpets in the same sentence ever again? :spray:

Yes, he pulled a fast one on us!

It is going to be a pain in the rear end for the banks to bribe every elected official in the country.
As I do recall, conservatives are the "states rights" advocates. It would seem that the conservatives on the court have some explaining do to.

:shrug: