“Big Ugly Bill” Sparks Fears of Rights Violations, Raising Concerns Across America
The separation of powers in the United States government is intended to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful, with the judicial branch serving as a check on the executive. However, a provision within the proposed “Big Ugly Bill” aims to cripple the judiciary’s ability to fulfill this role by requiring plaintiffs to post bonds to challenge the federal government, effectively barring most individuals and organizations from seeking legal redress. Fortunately, the Senate parliamentarian has ruled that this bond requirement does not comply with the special rules, potentially forcing the bill to be rewritten or face the possibility of a filibuster. The fate of this provision remains uncertain, but its potential impact on limiting the judicial branch’s ability to challenge the executive branch could be severe.
John Q. Hosedrinker