• MisterFrog@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Why aren’t the bodies allowed to say how relevant laws are applied? Isn’t the whole point behind regulatory bodies that the government will grant regulators certain powers with legislation?

    I’m not a legal expert, but in Australia at least there are a bunch of regulators that work to legislation, but they totally come up with extra clarifications and rules themselves within the powers they’ve been granted, and you are obligated to follow those rules.

    For example: the fair work commission in Australia sets the minimum wage every year, no legislation required. Employers can’t just decide they’re unreasonable and not follow them, unless they want to be taken to court (or go to jail, in certain states like Victoria).

    Now, I have no idea what the laws are that give the US EPA their powers, but either SCOTUS is totally out of line here, or the legislation sucks.

    • Facebones@reddthat.com
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      3 months ago

      The (bullshit) scotus argument is that congress can’t grant decision powers to federal agencies cause hurrdurr constitution.

      Basically, for ~40 years we’ve run on a SCOTUS decision referred to as the “Chevron Decision.” What that did is direct federal courts to defer to agencies on interpretations of relevant laws and statutes, because federal courts were being bogged down by every. little. bit. of. minutiae. around the practical application of a bills intention.“Agency says brown, interested party says black, BOOM LAWSUIT” is an exaggeration but not by much. Instead, Chevron gives agencies the room for experts in the field to draft appropriate regulations etc in service of congress’ bills. “Agency says brown, interested party says black, well too bad the experts say brown is the best choice.” Can’t tie them up in court over everything.

      Now, with Chevron overturned, Republicans can start tying everything they dont like up in court again. Plus, with the hyper conservative activist SCOTUS judges, now they can run any regulation or policy straight up the appeal ladder to have them all ruled “unconstitutional” with only the occasional less important burner case turned down in a halfass attempt to look “impartial”