In a surprising legislative move, Representatives Jamie Raskin and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are proposing a new law targeting Supreme Court justices.
The proposed legislation would enforce a $50 gift ban for Supreme Court justices, aligning their rules with those for Congress members.
According to Breitbart News, Representatives Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) are leading this initiative. They introduced the legislation to eliminate substantial gifts to Supreme Court justices.
Currently applicable to Congress members, this proposed rule would impose a $50 gift limit on the justices. Raskin and Ocasio-Cortez argue that such a measure is necessary to address ethics concerns surrounding the financial practices of Supreme Court justices.
The legislation aims to curb the acceptance of large gifts by Supreme Court justices, such as expensive foreign travel, paid tuition for family members, and recreational vehicles. The representatives emphasize that justices should not receive significant monetary gifts from friends, aiming to uphold ethical standards. This move comes amid growing scrutiny of the financial relationships and gifts received by Supreme Court justices, reflecting broader concerns about judicial ethics.
According to Ocasio-Cortez, "Congressman Raskin and myself will be introducing forthcoming legislation to even have the Supreme Court be subject to the same $50 gift rule that he and I are subject to, as everyone else who are members of Congress." This statement underscores the intent to level the ethical playing field between Congress and the judiciary.
Raskin addressed the issue by noting that Congress prohibits outside employment and enforces a $50 gift ban, as previously mentioned by AOC, ensuring that members steer clear of such activities.
Raskin stated:
Under what circumstances would a Supreme Court Justice be accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars or millions of dollars in foreign travel, paid tuition for family members, or a recreational vehicle?
Raskin emphasized the inconsistency of Supreme Court justices accepting substantial gifts, raising concerns about the ethical implications of these practices.
He added:
It is outlandish for us to contemplate. It is like the normal business as usual at the Supreme Court that they are collecting millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of dollars from their so-called friends. We need to clean that up. We said we will start with something simple that the whole country will be able to understand immediately and intuitively. We want a $50 gift ban. They make $300,000 a year, pay for your own lunch and pay for your own vacation.
The introduction of this legislation highlights the broader ethical concerns surrounding the Supreme Court. Raskin and Ocasio-Cortez aim to promote transparency and accountability within the judiciary by subjecting justices to the same gift restrictions as Congress members. This initiative reflects ongoing efforts to scrutinize and reform the financial practices of Supreme Court justices.
This proposed gift ban is part of a larger conversation about judicial ethics and the need for stricter regulations to prevent undue influence on the judiciary. If passed, the legislation would mark a significant step toward ensuring that Supreme Court justices adhere to the same ethical standards as other government officials.
The proposed legislation by Representatives Raskin and Ocasio-Cortez to enforce a $50 gift ban for Supreme Court justices represents a significant step toward addressing ethical concerns in the judiciary. By aligning the gift restrictions for justices with those for Congress members, the initiative aims to promote greater transparency and accountability. This move comes amid broader scrutiny of the financial practices of Supreme Court justices and highlights the need for continued efforts to uphold ethical standards in all branches of government.
